The Brooklyn Nets have had one heck of a ride. They first signed Kevin Durant back in 2019 knowing that the two-time NBA Finals MVP would miss a full season after under going major surgery on his Achilles. They knew that was worth a bit of patience. But upon trading the farm for James Harden in Jan. 2021, they have had a tough run of luck in terms of injuries, and unexpected absences since then, including Kyrie Irving only being available part-time due to vaccination status.

So how much of the Big 3 Durant, Harden and Irving will fans see healthy and available these playoffs? They're 2-0 as a trio this season and had one of their best wins when they crushed the Bulls 138-112 in early Jan. What about beyond this season? Will Irving and Harden, both set to become free agents next summer, make decisions about their future based on this vital playoff run? We analyzed that very question in the most recent “Nothing But Nets” podcast.

Kevin Durant is expected to be out beyond the All-Star Break. Irving has now been back to play in 9 games.  So what about their continuity? Has Irving's coming and going been a big distraction?

“Yeah, no we're used to it,” admitted Steve Nash prior to the team's 121-111 loss to the scorching hot Phoenix Suns, winners of 11 in a row. “We've haven't had a run of availability for 18 months so we're just used to always having different guys in and out of the lineup. [Irving is] about as easy a guy to fit into a a team as there is. With his skill level. And with us being shorthanded, it's definitely a welcome addition to our team. So it's been great having him back and the challenge from afar is something we're so accustomed to because we seemingly never have our full complement so in a sense we're used to this type of challenge.”

You get the sense that whatever concerns there were about Irving causing a distraction are long gone. Now the Nets just can't wait for the times he's available, especially while Durant is injured. The team has lost five in a row and are in sixth place, just 1.5 games up on the Charlotte Hornets. It's crucial they avoid the play-in tournament since that's one-and-done and they might not have Irving available for that game if it were played in Barclays Center.

Despite all the losing recently, Nash has seen signs of promise from his squad.

“To me, there’s no moral victories but we’re moving in the right direction, and when we get some health, we’ll be able to play teams like this,” said Nash following the loss to Chris Paul and company.

After the game, Kyrie was asked if he thinks about how much trouble the Big 3 have had being healthy and available at the same time.

“Man, honestly, I hate that I even have to answer that question,” said Irving. “We think about it daily. It’s not something that is shortsighted for us. We think about the long-term and how well we gel together as a trio.” It's that line about it not being something shortsighted, and being “long-term” that should be music to Nets' fans ears. This echoes a recent Woj bomb about Harden that the team's nucleus is in this for the long haul. 

“But we just know that the energy runs through us,” continued Irving. “And when we're flowing out there and we're playing, you know I think James said it last year, there's not a lot of teams that can be out on the floor with us that can matchup very well with us. That's just the confidence we have in one another when all three of us are healthy, and we're playing at a high level and we've only played a few games….it's definitely on our wish list man. And we just have to stay patient, and just not lose that confidence that all the pieces will come together at the right time.”

Harden was asked a version of the same question just prior to Irving. For what it's worth, he took a more zen approach.

But between the two, Irving is the one more likely to share some of his emotions, hopes and dreams with us reporters. Harden keeps it a bit more under wraps. Either way, given all of the obstacles that have stood in the Nets way since the team acquired Harden over a year ago, Irving's comments about long-term visions should give fans reason to be get excited. Harden, Irving and co. are back in action Wednesday in Sacramento vs. the Tyrese Haliburton and the Kings.