Getty PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: Kyrie Irving #11 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets watch from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena on February 16, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
For all the hype surrounding the Nets’ super team and their Big Three, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden have played only seven games together since Harden joined the team in January.
That may be about to change.
Brooklyn coach Steve Nash on Sunday provided an encouraging update on the status of Durant and Irving, both of whom have recently missed games.
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Nash Provides Updates on Durant & Irving
Regarding Irving, the news is good: Nash said the guard will play Monday when the Nets host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Barclays Center, according to a report Sunday by ESPN’s Malika Andrews. Irving, who is averaging a career-high 28.1 points and 5.7 assists this season, had missed the past three games. He was away from the team over that span while his fiance gave birth to their child.
Durant’s status is a bit murkier. The 11-time All-Star, who continues to rehab from a strained left hamstring, won’t play against the Timberwolves, Nash said, per Andrews.
Nash added he doubts that Durant, who hasn’t played in a game since February 13, will play at all this week. The Nets have three more games this week: at home against the Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, before heading to Chicago for a game against the Bulls on Sunday.
“There’s still steps for him to take, although he looks great, [he] is progressing and will definitely be back with us,” Nash said, via Andrews. “It’s just, I don’t think this week is likely.”
With the Nets continuing to win games in Durant’s absence — they’re 15-3 in the 18 games he’s missed due to his hamstring strain — they’ve erred on the side of caution with regard to his return.
According to Andrews, Nash said that Brooklyn is prioritizing Durant’s long-term health ahead of what they hope will be a championship run later this year.
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New-Look Nets
When Durant finally does return to the court, he’ll be playing with some new teammates. While Harden and Irving have led the Nets in Durant’s absence, GM Sean Marks recently signed former All-Stars Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge to pad Brooklyn’s depth.
All of a sudden, the Nets have a crowded frontcourt. The unit also includes DeAndre Jordan, Nic Claxton, Jeff Green and Reggie Perry.
Nets bigs:
– LaMarcus Aldridge
– Blake Griffin
– DeAndre Jordan
– Nic Claxton
– Reggie Perry
Nets forwards:
– Kevin Durant
– Jeff Green
Nets wings:
– Bruce Brown
– Joe Harris
– Landry Shamet
– TLC
Nets guards
– James Harden
– Kyrie Irving
– Tyler Johnson
– Spencer 🚑
– Cheeze
“We’ll see,” Nash said when asked how he sees minutes being distributed for Brooklyn’s big men once Durant returns, via SNY. “Something that I can’t predict. We’ll see how it all fits together and it’ll present itself. But right now I can’t predict how that’s going to be with it being any more than a prediction. So we’ll just see how it goes. We have lots of depth, lots of options and we’re excited about it.”
With the additions of Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, how does Steve Nash see the minutes being distributed for big men once Kevin Durant returns?
“We’ll see how it all fits together…we have lots of depth, lots of options and we’re excited about it”
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