"'I’m gonna be the ultimate mercenary, I’m gonna see if I can win 8 titles in 8 years'" - New York Times best-selling author on what Kevin Durant should do to change public perception of him
Kevin Durant has received a lot of backlash for leaving teams when the going got tough. He was heavily criticized for leaving the OKC Thunder, for snubbing the Golden State Warriors and now for requesting a trade out of Brooklyn.
New York Times award-winning author Chuck Klosterman made an appearance on "The Colin Cowherd Podcast" to explain how Durant could turn this into a positive for him.
"What he should do is to try to harness this weakness and make it into a strength.
"Kevin Durant should say, ‘From now on, for the rest of my career, I’m only gonna sign one-year deals. I’m just gonna go to whatever team I think can put [me] over the top. I’m gonna be the ultimate mercenary. I’m gonna see if I can win eight titles in eight years.’ Weirdly, public sentiment would change in his favor!"
Unc Shannon sharpe on Kevin Durant requesting a trade
“He’s a runner, he’s a track star” https://t.co/Bn3jKszyXA
What Klosterman is suggesting will not happen in the next four years. Durant is still contractually obliged to play for the Brooklyn Nets or any team he is traded to until the 2025-26 season. By that time, he will be 37 years old and could already be in a state of physical decline.
However, Klosterman’s idea is not without its merits. A 37-year-old Durant may not be an MVP candidate, but he could still be useful for a title contender.
“It doesn’t seem like he cares about his basketball future, about how people look at him, his legacy” - Rob Parker on Kevin Durant losing the respect of the basketball community and potential Warriors reunion - Sportskeeda dlvr.it/STdrGb
Changing public perception, however, may be a tougher task.
.@ChrisCanty99 is not a fan of Kevin Durant's trade request 😳
"Kevin Durant's legacy as far as I'm concerned. ... There is going to be a black mark on it because he is the face of the biggest failure in NBA history." https://t.co/10Ws8R9UZ3
Kevin Durant could be with the Brooklyn Nets at the start of the 2022-23 season
Nets owner Joe Tsai, who KD reportedly asked for a trade, is expected to keep the wantaway superstar in Brooklyn until he gets the right offer.
The market hasn’t really been robust for Kevin Durant for several reasons. One of the reasons is that he may leave, yet again, when the going gets tough.
Woj: "Brooklyn simply doesn't have a deal out there that's good enough to justify trading Kevin Durant with 4 years left on his contract."
#NBATwitter #NetsWorld https://t.co/fSyB7EIpi9
This has left Durant without a ton of options. Ultimately, he could just stay in Brooklyn and try and lead them to a title.
"[The Brooklyn Nets] have a legitimate chance to win the East."
— Jalen Rose on what if Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving stay together in Brooklyn
#NBATwitter #NetsWorld https://t.co/UmCPy3ivSv
Kyrie Irving, his superstar teammate, has reportedly committed to playing for the Brooklyn Nets with or without KD.
If Irving is fully engaged, the Nets will be a top team capable of contending for the title.