Kevin Durant sends strong message to former team Nets ahead of return

Apr 6, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Footprint Center. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant is hoping that his former team reads the room this week.

Brooklyn Nets fans got into a debate over X on Sunday about whether Durant should get a tribute video from the team. The Phoenix Suns star Durant will be making his return to Brooklyn on Wednesday for a game against the Nets.

Durant himself decided to chime in on the debate and left no doubt about where he stands.

“Please don’t,” said Durant of a Nets tribute video. “the night will be better without it.”

Please don’t, the night will be better without it

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 28, 2024

The former MVP Durant signed with Brooklyn in free agency in 2019 and ushered in a star-studded era, bringing Kyrie Irving and later James Harden along with him. But the anticipated superteam kaputed miserably as the Nets won a grand total of one playoff series before all three players left.

On Durant’s end, he demanded a trade from Brooklyn multiple times, tried to get head coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks fired (succeeeding on the former), and even seemingly dissed his own Nets teammates shortly before a trade to Phoenix was granted. A Brooklyn tribute video for Durant would likely get booed to oblivion within seconds, so Durant is probably right that the Nets would be wise to hold off there.