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Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant bodies Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot ahead of Olympics matchup

By Jerry Trotta

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 27: Kevin Durant #7 and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #9 of the Brooklyn Nets slap hands following a play during the fourth quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on December 27, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 27: Kevin Durant #7 and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #9 of the Brooklyn Nets slap hands following a play during the fourth quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on December 27, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Looking to reload the Brooklyn Nets’ roster after they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, general manager Sean Marks will be put to the test this offseason.

In the meantime, however, Brooklyn’s brightest superstar, Kevin Durant, is looking to lead his country to a gold medal at the Olympics.

It’s been an embarrassing start for both Durant and Team USA — that probably isn’t a coincidence considering he’s clearly their best player — but the squad got back to the winning side of things by routing Argentina in their latest exhibition game.

Durant and Co. will have two more tune-up games before they face off against France in their first meaningful game in Tokyo.

You know what that means? Durant and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot will lock horns in a matchup of Nets teammates.

When asked about the forthcoming showdown, Durant delivered a personal message to his teammate, saying he can’t guard him and vice versa.

Nets star Kevin Durant is coming for blood against Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

"“I definitely talked my (expletive) to TLC a couple times about how he can’t guard me, and how I lock him up on defense,” Durant told reporters. “So I can’t wait to talk even more (expletive) when I see him with his national team.”"

We like to think Luwawu-Cabarrot has a lot of company here, as Durant is a seasoned and willing trash-talker. Whether it be on the hardwood or through his Twitter fingers, the two-time Finals MVP seemingly always has an insult in the chamber, no matter the opponent.

That doesn’t bode well for TLC and France, who aren’t quite in the upper tier of title contenders, but aren’t terribly far off, either. If Durant and Team USA don’t get their act together, France could potentially play spoiler in the Olympic opener.

In all seriousness, though, this could be a long game for Luwawu-Cabarrot if Durant matches up against him on defense. We’re not sure the four-time scoring champ would take personal shots at his Brooklyn teammate, but he’ll have no shortage of disses to shell out in his direction.

After all, TLC found himself axed from the Nets’ playoff rotation and really struggled to piggyback off a promising 2019-20 campaign that saw him emerge as one of the surprise standout performers in the Disney Bubble after the season resumed.

And if Luwawu-Cabarrot takes the challenge of defending Durant, one of the greatest scorers the sport has ever seen, it might be all she wrote for France. You just know Durant, like he does with criticism from a random burner account, will take that matchup personally.

For any Nets fans who don’t care much for the Olympics, we’d strongly advise tuning in to the July 25 matchup between the USA and France. Based on these comments from Durant, you kind of get the feeling he’s going to be out for blood in that game.