Kevin Durant left the Golden State Warriors after three seasons and two NBA championships to join the Brooklyn Nets in the early hours of this summer’s free agency. However, it’s still unclear if he will play this campaign or he’ll sit out the entire season. Durant is recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
Durant is hopeful he can make a return in the 2019-20 season and spoke with Chris Henderson about it, but he also talked about his new team and the young Dallas Mavericks squad.
“I’m excited about this group. Obviously, with me not starting off the season and obviously being injured, you’re going to see a lot of guys step up and do some things and go to another level as a player,” Durant said. “Caris [LeVert], Joe Harris, Taurean Prince. Even the older guys like Garrett Temple, Kyrie [Irving], DeAndre [Jordan]. I feel like everybody in this environment is going to step up another level, especially due to circumstances with me not being available. I think everybody’s going to step up and take it to the next level. We got great coaching, great front office, great fanbase that’s excited for something new. This is a fresh start for everybody I feel.”
The Brooklyn Nets will address the media later this month, and we will find out whether they’ll decide to keep Durant out for the season or if he’ll play later in the campaign. Durant underwent surgery to repair a right Achilles tear almost three months ago. Some surgeons think he could return in 10 months, while others expect him to miss the entire season.
Durant was also asked what he thinks about Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and the Dallas Mavericks for the upcoming campaign.
“I think (Doncic) was raised in a basketball environment that taught him how to play the ins and outs of the game. You don’t see guys at that age who can manipulate the game the way he does,” Durant said. “He can control the full game at (a young) age, which is rare. I’m expecting huge things from him going forward and a superstar career going forward. As far as KP, his name says it all. His nickname being the unicorn. A guy that can do so many things at that height and that agility. I’m looking forward to seeing those two come together. I think they’ve got something going down there. Mark Cuban is always going to support his guys and put them in the best position so that’s a franchise I’ll definitely be watching over the next couple of years.”
