Jalen Rose thinks Kevin Durant will regret leaving Warriors following Kyrie Irving's trade request: "You always think about 'What Ifs'"
Kevin Durant made a surprising call in the summer of 2019 when he decided to leave the Golden State Warriors. He had made three straight finals appearances with them, winning the chip twice and also the finals MVP honors. Durant was the best player on the best team in the league.
However, KD set out to prove that he could win championships elsewhere. He teamed up with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn to do so. Durant missed the first season as he spent time recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in his last game with the Warriors in the 2019 finals. He led the Nets to the conference semis the following year. The Nets got swept in the first round by the Celtics in last year's playoffs.
Simply put, the move turned out to be disastrous for Kevin Durant. Former player turned analyst Jalen Rose reflected on the Nets All-Star forward's choices, saying Durant will regret leaving the Warriors. Here's what Rose said (via Talkin' NBA):
"He probably won't say this today, but as he looks back at his career and when you look back at your playing days, you always think about 'What Ifs,' He gonna regret leaving the Warriors. That was a tailor made situation."
"He probably won't say this today, but as he looks back at his career and when you look back at your playing days, you always think about 'What Ifs,' He gonna regret leaving the Warriors. That was a tailor made situation."
Jalen Rose on Kevin Durant https://t.co/SadDJaC36P
The Brooklyn Nets started coming along as a group after enduring back-to-back seasons with rigorous off-court drama circling Kyrie Irving. They recorded one of the best stretches in franchise history under coach Jacque Vaughn's tenure, which started when the team dropped to a 2-6 start.
However, Irving demanded a trade request ahead of the deadline (Feb. 9) after failing to reach an agreement over a contract extension with Brooklyn. The Nets once again seem far from achieving their goal, as Irving was integral to their chances of doing so.
Kevin Durant's hopes of achieving success with Brooklyn Nets hampered due to off-court factors
Kevin Durant has given maximum commitment to the Brooklyn Nets from his end during his tenure. Throughout the controversies that stemmed from Kyrie Irving's end and the front office's poor handling of situations around star players and the team's culture, Durant has been a professional.
He had injury issues, but Durant has made himself available at every opportunity and has played like the superstar he has been for years in this league. Since making his debut two years ago, Durant has averaged 29.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game across 129 appearances.
He was the first and only star to commit to a four-year extension when James Harden was also on the team before the 2021-22 NBA season.
Kevin Durant asked for a trade after the team's lack of culture reflected their poor chemistry last offseason. However, the Nets resolved those concerns, and KD rescinded his request. The team has hit another roadblock, with Kyrie Irving demanding a trade.
It would be safe to say that the team's failure didn't rest on KD's shoulders as he maintained his performance and commitment throughout his stint in Brooklyn.