The Brooklyn Nets managed to make a splash in free agency with the signing of forward Kevin Durant. Of course, they know full well it is going to take some time for him to work his way back from injury before making his debut in the 2019-20 NBA season.
Regardless, they are still looking forward to what he brings off the court as well. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said that Durant's basketball IQ will pay huge dividends for his teammates.
“I know I need his basketball acumen around and his leadership,” Atkinson said during an appearance on WFAN, via Nets Daily. “First and foremost is his rehab and getting that right. We are going to use him. We might have to give him an assistant coach’s salary.
“You need to use guys like that. We’re going to need his leadership this year. I know I have talked to him about it. He’s excited about that. We have already started our conversations.”
There is certainly plenty of truth to Atkinson's comments. Although Durant was no longer available for his last playoff run with the Golden State Warriors, his mere presence helped boost the team's morale. His status as one of the NBA's elite players will continue to carry plenty of weight for this new-look Nets team.
As beneficial as it is to have Durant be in Brooklyn, there is no question that they are already counting down the days until they can bring him into the mix and become a legitimate title contender. They have already indicated that they will take a cautious approach with his recovery considering how late in the year he suffered the Achilles injury. For now, they will have to settle for him playing the role of coach moving forward.
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