Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving joined the Brooklyn Nets together in 2019, and big things were expected from the duo. They were expected to be a perennial championship contender when they added James Harden, but by 2023, all three stars had left the Nets.
Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the franchise and was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks at the deadline. Kevin Durant wasn’t going to stay as the sole star in Brooklyn, and the team managed to make a deal with the Phoenix Suns. Things seemed cold between Durant and Kyrie after that, and now KD has opened up about their relationship.
![Kyrie Irving: "I don't think we're gonna struggle without Kevin [Durant] out" - TalkBasket.net](https://www.talkbasket.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kd-ky-e1680187719446.jpeg)
“That’s something I’m going to keep internal,” he said when asked by The Ringer about his equation with Kyrie. “I don’t want to expose our relationship. I think that’s deeper than basketball, but I wouldn’t say it was a problem. I didn’t think it was a problem.”
They had arrived in Brooklyn as a package deal, but the way it all panned out has likely taken a toll on how they both feel about one another. The Brooklyn Nets could have made another run for the championship this season if both had stayed and perhaps Irving’s insistence on moving on has played a part in making things a bit awkward between them.
Kevin Durant Is Thriving With The Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant has no regrets about his time with Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets, and he has other things to focus on now anyway. As a part of the Phoenix Suns, he has an excellent chance of getting to the NBA Finals once again and possibly even winning the championship. Since he joined the Suns, he has only lost one game so far, the playoff loss against the Los Angeles Clippers, but his team is now up 3-1 in the series and in complete control.
Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, missed the play-in tournament with the Dallas Mavericks and his future is now uncertain. He will be a free agent this offseason unlike Kevin Durant, and there is no guarantee he will stay on his current team. The Suns are likely to make a move for Kyrie, so it’s not like Durant will be forced to confront whatever his feelings on the matter are anytime soon. His focus now is likely only on the current playoff run, and it will be interesting to see how far he can go.
Source: fadeawayworld.net
