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Nets: Watch Kevin Durant hooping in Brooklyn jersey at latest practice

ByJerry Trotta|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)

Nets fans will love Kevin Durant getting up shots in a Brooklyn jersey at the team’s latest practice.

There’s probably just as much ambiguity surrounding the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21 as there is excitement, and understandably so, given that their two superstars are coming off major injuries with lengthy rehabs.

While both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are widely reported to be looking like their old selves from a lateral quickness and mobility perspective of late, we simply won’t be able to know if that’s true until the season starts and they’re facing live competition.

Until that time comes, however, fans will have to settle for clips of the duo partaking in the initial stages of preseason camp. First up on the agenda is Durant, who was spotted getting up shots in a Brooklyn jersey at practice on Monday.

https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1336089395682742281?s=20

Yes, it’s really happening.

Fans in Brooklyn obviously won’t be able to make a final judgment about Durant’s health by watching him take uncontested jumpers, but the fact that he’s made it this far is promising when you consider how many athletes, specifically basketball stars, have seen their respective careers derailed by an achilles injury.

Even more uplifting for the Nets are the comments head coach Steve Nash made about Durant to reporters on Sunday.

"“I feel very excited and happy for Kevin, who’s had the longest layoff and the biggest challenge to overcome a career-threatening injury,” Nash said. “He’s done everything that could’ve been asked and he shows a hunger and a desire of how much he loves the sport and wants to compete, so that’s been fantastic.”"

How about a side angle of Durant hooping at the Nets facility? Spoiler alert: his jumper looks even prettier and more pure in this clip.

Durant was seemingly on the cusp of supplanting LeBron James as the consensus best player in the world before he — while already playing injured and trying to will an undermanned Warriors team to a championship — suffered the devastating injury during the 2019 Finals.

That year, the former MVP was as clinical as ever, averaging 26 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.1 blocks per game to go with .521/.353/.885 shooting splits. Durant impressively took his game up several notches in the playoffs when he logged 32.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 51.4% from the floor and 43.8% on threes.

If Durant manages to replicate a semblance of that dominance, the Nets will be as tough of an out as any team come playoff time. The four-time scoring champ is simply that cold-blooded, and you can bet that he will be on a mission after spending the entire 2019-20 season rehabbing.