When Kevin Durant returned to Brooklyn, his video memorial was perfunctory. However, his performance was near perfect his KD.
From a cheeky shoulder bump and “too little sign” to protégé Cam Thomas to a dominant score. From back-and-forth trash talk with fans to a warm hug from Nets general manager Sean Marks in a quiet corner of Barclays Center.
It was clear before, during and after the Nets’ 136-120 loss to Durant and the Suns that they missed him. Not just players, but people too. And Persona.
“I know this crowd, if you talk to me, I’ll talk back,” Durant said. “Even at games, I get really excited because after I hit a shot, we can have a little chat on the way home. So I feel like this crowd in Brooklyn probably understands me more than any other crowd in the league. do.”
Durant, who forced a trade nearly a year ago after an ultimately disappointing three-and-a-half campaign here, drew applause from the sellout crowd of 17,732 during a pre-tipoff memorial. Then the match started, and the cheers turned to boos. Then there was silence, music to his competitive ears.
The former MVP had a game-high 33 points on 10-of-16 shooting, eight assists and five rebounds. He scored 10 points in a 24-6 third quarter run that broke the tie and ultimately defeated the Nets. Then turn off the fan.
“It’s the same thing Kevin is doing,” Thomas said.
“I love to shut up the crowd. I love the people here, but I love to shut them up,” Durant said. He had twice as many trade requests here as he had playoff series wins. “There were some annoying people trying to get my attention. ‘I hate KD!’ But I turn around and say, ‘I love you, dude!’ They’re wearing my jersey.
“It’s all good for the game and for the relationship with the crowd. … It’s always fun to play in New York. They appreciate great ball.”
Some fans in the stands held up GOAT signs. Many people were wearing Durant jerseys.
One was his mother, Wanda, who came all the way to help him get back home. Durant, who returned to her Oklahoma City home, was understandably defensive after her nasty bile and vitriol were hurled at him.
It turns out there was no need for that. It may not have been the outpouring of love Durant received from Golden State (which makes sense considering he’s a two-time Finals MVP), but it certainly was warm before and after tipoff.
Despite Durant’s trade demands, there was little rancor. Perhaps because of the Big 3, James Harden was the first to force his exit, then Kyrie Irving, who requested a trade last February when Durant was injured. He was the last man to kill their title hopes.
For Durant, it was memorable as the new Big Three of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal played their 17th game together on Wednesday. That’s one more than the Brooklyn trio had together in their entire tenure.
“That’s the context of why we were a ‘failure,’ right?” Durant said of his lack of success in Brooklyn.
Still, he insists he doesn’t play the “what if” game.
“No. It’s just a pointless exercise to think about what could happen. What happened? That’s what I thought. … We didn’t have enough time together,” he said. “That’s all.
“Everyone had to go their own way. We did everything we could to salvage everything and bring everything together. …But at the end of the day, I came to work and I wanted to help this community. It was fun to be a part of and play for Brooklyn. No matter what happened, what was said, no matter how I felt, I still came to work.
“[I reminisce about] What we strive for every day, through adversity, through the hustle and bustle, through the relationships we have built with our teammates and coaching staff. …and New York City in general. I really like living here. I didn’t like it before I came as a visitor, but once I live here, my attachment to this city grows and I understand it even more. So, we had a really fun time here. ”
He admits he still misses Brooklyn. And even though Brooklyn was without a star player in his absence, it was clear that players and people still missed him.
