Kevin Durant just dropped a bombshell, straight up saying the 2021 Brooklyn Nets were the “best team” he ever played for. Yeah, you read that right. Not the Golden State dynasty, but the squad that ultimately fizzled out without a title. It’s a bold statement, no doubt, and it shows just how much that Nets team still gnaws at him.
The Cheat Code That Never Activated
Imagine this: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden all on one roster. Seriously, that’s like a cheat code for winning. The Nets absolutely thought they had unlocked the puzzle, assembling a big three ready to snatch a championship. But man, did it ever fall apart. That whole setup fizzled out without a single title, a massive blow to the Nets, and especially to that trio. Durant is still clearly hurt by it, believing it was the most talented team he ever suited up for.
They had some serious talent beyond the big three too. Durant himself name-dropped Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, and Patty Mills. He said on Boardroom, “That’s the biggest one for me; it would’ve been so dope to see that in Brooklyn. Just looking at the straight roster, and nothing else, I would say Brooklyn. Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, Patty Mills. We had the names on that team when you’re looking at straight paper.” It’s hard to argue with the names on that list, they absolutely were loaded.
The What Ifs Still Haunt KD
Here’s the kicker: this dude won back-to-back championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. That 2017 Warriors squad, in particular, is still legendary; they only lost one single game in the Playoffs! People still talk about them as one of the best NBA teams ever assembled. So, for Durant to say the 2021 Nets, who won nothing, were better *on paper*? That’s a serious take.
The big problem? The injury bug was relentless. Durant, Irving, and Harden only played 16 games together. In those 16 games, they actually went 13-3, splitting it into an 8-2 regular season record and a 5-1 playoff record. That’s a ridiculously good win percentage for any team, let alone one still figuring things out. But they just couldn’t stay healthy. Then, to make things messier, Harden got traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2022. It was a chaotic situation for everyone involved, leaving Durant to forever wonder what might have been if they’d just had some health and stability. That 13-3 record just leaves you imagining a world where they stayed on the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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