Kevin Durant opened up to multiple reporters after the Brooklyn Nets lost to the Sacramento Kings last night.
Based on what was published, Durant did not hold back. There were fourteen words bleeped out in Chris Haynes’ story on Bleacher Report (the word “s–t” was printed twelve times) and eight words censored in Marc Spears’ piece on Andscape.
Durant told Spears that he loves the people in Brooklyn and his trade request allowed him to have “honest conversations” with the team. Apparently, one of those conversations was about the way the team used to practice under the Nash-led regime.
This is what he told Haynes, taking a page out of the Allen Iverson playbook by talking about practice:
“I went to them and was like, ‘Yo, I don’t like how we are preparing. I don’t like shootarounds. I like practices. I need more. I want to work on more s–t. Hold me accountable. Get on my ass in film if that’s going to help you get on everybody else’s head. I want to do more closeouts. I want to work on more shell drills at practice.’
Durant added that nobody was on the “same vibe” when it came to that desire. Nash’s successor, Jacque Vaughn, is apparently more aligned with Durant.
Durant continued, noting he has enjoyed “grinding” with Vaughn and his Brooklyn teammates so far this season.
“I just like good practices, I like a good preparation, I like good energy, and we’ve been showing that, to be honest,” Durant told B/R. “Coaches have been doing a great job, regardless of this loss tonight and last game. I think we’ve been preparing ourselves well. Guys want to win. We’re out there playing as hard as we can. That’s really what I need.
“That’s what I said last summer. I didn’t feel like we had those things last year like good preparation, great energy to start real team chemistry, and I feel like we’re building that right now. We got some guys in and out the lineup, but I think guys have been figuring out their roles within that. And it’s been fun, regardless of games like tonight.”
According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving would sometimes host his own practice immediately after the conclusion of Nash’s practices.
Irving is currently suspended by the organization, and Ben Simmons has had both limited availability and productivity since he was traded to the Nets for James Harden last season.
During his conversations with Spears and Haynes, however, Durant remained adamant that he is much happier than people realize. He told Spears that he needs to smile in photographs more often so people understand that he isn’t Mr. Miserable, as he was described by TNT analyst Charles Barkley.
“What’s not to love about this life? I’m a great player. I get up to go hoop every day, work on my game. I make a s— ton of money. I buy a lot of cool s—. I don’t understand why there’s even a question on whether I’m happy or not. I just look at the big picture of things. Obviously, basketball, I want to do well, win every game and I want s— to be perfect. But that doesn’t mean my whole life is f—ed up.”
He told Haynes something similar, adding that if he were mic’d up in games more often, fans would notice how much he actually enjoys getting to play basketball.
“I’m really having a good time. I wish y’all could hear me talk during the game. If I got mic’d up more, people would stop asking me if I’m happy or not. I’m enjoying every moment I get to step on this f–king court, and part of it is because I tore my Achilles. And the pandemic, I didn’t know if we were going to play again. I didn’t know if I was going to play again.
“I was just like, ‘This can’t be it for me.’ I have to really enjoy every single moment I’m out here. That’s part of being a pro. I have to be coachable, I have to knock down shots, I have to be aggressive, and I have to talk to my teammates the right way. That’s the journey and the battle.”
I’m just glad to see Durant is feeling honest and happy. That’s wonderful.
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