The NBA should be downright embarrassed over what happened to Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant on Friday night.

In case you missed it, KD had himself quite the roller-coaster ride ahead of their game with the Toronto Raptors. The former league MVP was getting ready to suit up for the Eastern Conference showdown when he received word that he would not be allowed to start the game due to the league's health and safety protocols. The NBA then allowed Durant to play and the 32-year old entered the game late in the first quarter. He went on to play 19 minutes. Then in a strange and confusing turn of events, the league told the 10-time All-Star to leave the floor immediately due to the COVID-19 protocols.

Durant was understandably not happy with how the NBA handled this situation. He didn't hold back his rage over the embarrassing blunder as he went on to unleash an NSFW-filled tirade directed at the NBA.

Something similar happened when Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas left their game on Jan. 8, coincidentally, against the Nets after half time due to the league protocols. This happened after Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry spent some time on the bench — also in a game against Brooklyn — before receiving word that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Curry didn't see action on the court but it was obvious that the NBA could have done a much better job in handling a circumstance like that.

This one with Durant, however, is arguably the worst example of how chaotic the NBA's process is when it comes to following COVID-19 protocols.

Kevin Durant didn't test positive for the virus. In fact, he already returned three negative tests over the last 24 hours, including two negative PCR tests, as the league announced in its memo shortly after Durant left the game. Here is the NBA's statement on the situation as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Let's get the situation straight from a logical standpoint. The NBA knew that Kevin Durant had come in close contact with a possibly infected individual, which is the reason why they held him out of the game in the first place.

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So why was he allowed to play Friday's nationally televised game, then? Giving Durant the clearance to enter the game meant that he had checked all the boxes required with regards to the health protocols. Apparently, that wasn't the case, as the two-time Finals MVP was allowed to play despite not having a conclusiveCOVID-19 test result.

This is just plain irresponsible and inexcusable on the part of the NBA, considering a lot goes on during game preparations. It definitely messed up the Nets' flow and offensive strategy throughout the game. Brooklyn probably initially planned its game without Kevin Durant. Then had to adjust when he entered, and finally had to make changes again when he abruptly left the game for good due to the league's major hiccup.

Could the Nets have avoided losing to the Raptors, 123-117, had the NBA handled the situation in a more orderly manner? In any case, it was a nightmarish scenario that could have been prevented.

Kevin Durant's situation should never occur, considering they seemingly had the situation under control by initially holding him out. We'll never know what their motivations were for allowing the Nets superstar to play despite not making sure that he was indeed cleared. Fans can make their own speculations why, but only the NBA can give the answers.

Nevertheless, the league is doing its best to keep its players safe as they go through the 2020-21 season. The protocols are there to help ensure that and keep the damage to a minimum. However, it still has major flaws and Durant's conundrum is a clear example of it.

And they're supposed to hold the 2021 All-Star Game in Atlanta this March? The NBA might have to think twice about that.