Kevin Durant has bold claim about NBA season restart, further supporting Nets teammate Kyrie Irving.
The Brooklyn Nets have been making headlines thanks to Kyrie Irving being outspoken about the NBA season restart, claiming he’s willing to “sacrifice everything” for social reform. While he’s gotten support from teammates Kevin Durant and Wilson Chandler, he’s also been heavily criticized by current and former players, media members and analysts.
However, Irving has now gotten the ultimate backing from Durant, so any critics will have to come after one of the best all-around players of this generation.
When speaking on the issue on the “Dawg Talk” podcast, Durant had this to say:
Kevin Durant says he probably wouldn't have played in NBA's restart even if he was healthy https://t.co/SyOqlnZzN7 pic.twitter.com/BNgz8Wik0R
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 26, 2020
“I probably wouldn’t have played,” Durant told Dawg Talk. “It’s just so unpredictable. It’s easy for me to say right now because I’m injured, but I probably wouldn’t have went down there (to Orlando).
“If the guys feel safe enough to go play, that’s cool, I’m with them. If they don’t feel like they should go down there and play or don’t feel safe, I’m with them too. I’m all about what the group wants.”
Now, imagine if a player of Durant’s stature was healthy, ready to play, in the midst of a deep playoff run, and said this. How would have the rest of the NBA reacted? Would the game’s top stars such as LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, James Harden and others back him?
KD didn’t reference social reform in his response — he was more concerned with the spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida, and rightfully so. While he did say he would have discussed it thoroughly with his teammates and other players in the league, his gut is telling him it’s not the right move.
This no doubt would have changed the entire discussion around the topic.