‘Something I’m going to keep internal’: Kevin Durant REFUSES to discuss his relationship with Kyrie Irving as he reflects on his Nets exit but has no ‘problem’ with the controversial star
- Both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving departed the Nets earlier this season
- Durant spoke positively about time in Brooklyn but was coy about Irving
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He’s spearheading the NBA title charge for the Phoenix Suns but whatever happens this season, the Brooklyn Nets will be a big part of Kevin Durant’s story.
One of the stars of the NBA, the 34-year-old Durant was traded from the Nets to the Suns in February, following Kyrie Irving out of the door in Brooklyn.
Irving headed to the Dallas Mavericks, joining forces with Luka Doncic but together, they failed to lead the Mavs to the playoffs.
It was a disappointing end to a controversial season for Irving, who in November was suspended for eight Nets games for sharing a link to a ‘venomously anti-Semitic’ documentary and initially refusing to apologize.
Now, reflecting on his time in Brooklyn and his relationship with Irving, Durant gave a coy answer.
Kevin Durant has refused to discuss his relationship with Kyrie Irving from time at the Nets
Durant left the Nets in February and the NBA star is now playing for the Phoenix Suns
‘That’s something I’m going to keep internal. I don’t want to expose our relationship,’ Durant said of Irving in an interview with The Ringer.
‘I think that’s deeper than basketball, but I wouldn’t say it was a problem. I didn’t think it was a problem.
‘My job is to play, and I think I did that. Rehab, a lot of stuff was out of my control that I didn’t… I can’t speak on, to be honest, but I just thought we didn’t play enough minutes together. That’s all.’
Speaking more widely of his four years in Brooklyn, Durant only had positive things to say, although there seems to be a sense of disappointment that an impasse in contract talks led to his exit.
Irving left at the same time for the Mavericks but they failed to make the NBA playoffs
‘Incredible four years,’ he said. ‘I’ve grown to love the state of New York, the city of Brooklyn. Good family and friends there. Played some of the best ball of my life there.’
Durant helped the Suns to series victory in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday night, scoring 31 points in his team’s 136-130 victory.
His teammate Devin Booker starred with 47 points.
The Suns will play the Denver Nuggets next, starting Saturday.