Kevin Durant will probably be on the courtroom this week, however not the way in which he deliberate or anticipated to be. With the NBA Finals tipping off, he’ll be in coaching camp with Crew USA.
Nearly instantly after his Nets misplaced Recreation 7 of their second-round sequence to the Bucks, Durant dedicated to play within the Tokyo Olympics. He didn’t wish to hear all of the congratulations about his bounce-back from Achilles surgical procedure, or his good playoff efficiency. To him, that was anticipated. Really, he anticipated extra.
“I’m getting so many congratulations now: I didn’t do something. We misplaced,” Durant stated on the “Boardroom: Out of Workplace” podcast. “I knew I may play, I knew I used to be good. I’ve scored 48 earlier than. I had huge video games earlier than, I made huge photographs earlier than. So it didn’t really feel like something particular to me, as a result of we misplaced.”
If there was something encouraging that Durant took out of his first 12 months truly enjoying for the Nets, it wasn’t reaching the Japanese Convention semifinals after they clearly had taken intention on the NBA Finals. And it wasn’t averaging 26.9 factors recent off an 18-month layoff following his ruptured Achilles.
No, it was altering the tradition across the Nets. Higher native rankings within the common season, mammoth rankings within the postseason, celebrities within the Barclays Heart stands and a rising fan base that may nearly style a title? That, he takes delight in.
“Simply the camaraderie we constructed with the followers. The tradition we sort of constructed round Barclays and simply Nets tradition usually,” Durant stated. “Individuals sort of take a look at the Nets now and like, ‘All proper, they are often contenders subsequent 12 months.’ I like that a part of it. I used to be enthusiastic about that going ahead.
“I used to be enthusiastic about that even within the common season. It felt fairly stable to begin to construct a tradition. I really feel like quite a bit Nets followers really feel like, ‘Yo, we bought an opportunity.’ To make some noise subsequent 12 months.”
The noise Durant is speaking about is staying wholesome and truly finishing the unfinished enterprise of attending to the NBA Finals and profitable a title. However one of many extra gratifying issues for Durant was the very fact his Nets at the very least made some noise, each within the NBA and within the New York sporting panorama.
It was Durant’s recruitment of James Harden that made the Nets’ lopsided take care of Houston even attainable. And Durant watched his plan — at the very least partially — come to fruition, infusing a once-invisible Nets crew with much-needed juice and cachet.
“It was enjoyable, man,” Durant stated. “Particularly with the Knicks enjoying and us enjoying. We bought two groups within the playoffs. Knicks [and] Nets followers bought just a little beef proper now as a result of each groups are stable. We bought the MSG-Barclays beef within the metropolis.
“It simply felt like a number of vitality, man. You look in our stands, you see superstars there. Beyoncé, Jay-Z, H.E.R., Bryan Cranston … Travis Scott. You see that vitality floating round our constructing for video games like that now. What’s subsequent 12 months going to seem like? Individuals bought that image of their minds. It’s cool to be part of that s–t, to assist construct that s–t.”
The Nets’ Recreation 7 towards the Bucks — with the sort of glitterati often reserved for the Backyard — averaged 6.91 million viewers on TNT. It was not solely the most-watched program of the week on any community, but additionally it was the league’s eighth-best early spherical playoff draw since 2012 — and the third-largest on cable.
Granted, it didn’t finish the way in which Durant had deliberate, together with his last-ditch miss in extra time primarily ending the Nets’ season. Inside a day he dedicated to Crew USA, which begins coaching camp Tuesday, and the Olympics.
Why?
“Being in Tokyo, I’ve by no means been there earlier than. Taking part in with [Jayson] Tatum and Ebook [Devin Booker] and Dame [Lillard] … Bam [Adebayo],” Durant stated. “I by no means performed with these dudes, so I’m wanting ahead to that.
“I identical to enjoying for Crew USA. I simply love the hospitality they present us. Simply the entire expertise is enjoyable. Simply being across the guys for a month is cool.”
The gold medal recreation is Aug. 6, with the closing ceremonies two days later.
Figuring out Durant, it received’t take lengthy for his thoughts to show to his paying gig, and the 2021-22 season he’s already wanting ahead to.
