Kevin Durant has remained in the background for most of this transitional season with the Brooklyn Nets, but he came forward at a seminal moment. When the Nets held a team meeting last week to air out their frustrations, it was the two-time champion who stepped up and made his voice heard, urging his teammates to improve their habits if they hope to evolve into a championship contender.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, who helped break the details of Kenny Atkinson's firing and the moves preceding it, told The Glue Guys podcast why Durant's voice was so important:
”When he chimed in and pointed out that ‘Listen we have to improve our habits, this is not how you build a culture of championship contention.’ When Kevin Durant speaks, everyone listens and I think that was definitely a major critical moment in this thing as well,” said Charania.
Durant has remained in the background for most of the season, limiting his appearances with the media while he recovers from a torn Achilles. Still, his opinion as a vital member of the Nets is just as valuable, if not more, coming from a superstar player with championship mettle.
Charania wasn't surprised by the move, but more so that the Nets decided to make it before the end of the season:
“I think there was an understanding on both sides that this was going to come inevitably in the summer, from the front office, the ownership, the star players,” he said. “Sean Marks and his front office had to do was gather all the information, all the intel they had. They knew what was going on and at that point you need to make the best decision for your franchise and if it means getting out ahead of something, that is what it takes.”
Durant claimed to be looking forward to playing for Atkinson when he first came to the Nets, but the disarray between rotations, minutes, and roles ultimately spelled the coach's end with the franchise.
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