Kevin Durant is set to join the Houston Rockets, marking the fifth team in his NBA career as he aims to help them end a 30-year championship drought. His recent experiences with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns did not yield the championship success anticipated, despite both teams assembling star-heavy rosters centered around Durant.
Durant and Nash Open Up About the Brooklyn Nets’ Struggles
In the second episode of the Mind the Game podcast, Durant and former Nets head coach Steve Nash appeared together, joined by LeBron James, to discuss what ultimately went wrong in Brooklyn. Nash’s tenure lasted just over two years, and both pointed to factors beyond a single moment—such as Nash’s infamous step on the three-point line during Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks—as central to the team’s downfall.
Durant highlighted that injuries and a chaotic environment filled with distractions and instability were core issues that hindered the team’s ability to achieve their goals.
Durant Describes the Tumultuous Environment Behind the Scenes
Durant recalled a candid conversation with Nash before a game in Portland, reflecting on the uncertain future despite their recent contract signings. He said,
“We had this conversation in Portland, I think, right before a game and I’m like, ‘who am I spending my next five years with?’ I had just signed that deal, you had just signed a deal, it felt like we were secure but everything else around us was going to shit,”
—Kevin Durant
He went on to describe the instability caused by executives and players cycling through the franchise, adding,
“Not in a bad way, we got GMs going to other teams, we got coaches going to other teams, we got players forcing trades, we got bringing in Ben Simmons he’s back. There was so much bullshit around us, I felt like we were locked in on the same page and understanding we’re trying to do something special here. But, and I feel like your hands were tied a lot because as a coach you had to deal with so much.”
—Kevin Durant
Nash Reflects on Coaching Amid Constant Distractions
Steve Nash admitted that the persistent distractions limited his ability to fully apply his coaching approach. He shared,
“I didn’t get to coach as much as I wanted to,”
—Steve Nash
Durant agreed, emphasizing that the environment prevented Nash from being the coach he wanted to be and that winning under those conditions wasn’t possible. He said,
“That’s what it was. I didn’t feel like we got the full Steve Nash like I wanted, like you probably wanted. I feel like it was just too many distractions in a way, and you know you can’t win that way,”
—Kevin Durant
Still, Durant expressed pride in the team’s commitment and energy during their first season together, describing it as some of the best basketball he has played in and the reason he chose to sign a multi-year deal with Brooklyn.
“But I felt like we had great intentions though. I feel like we cared enough. I feel like every day we were trying to push towards winning a championship. It was a great vibe in there. It’s some of the best times I’ve had. That first year, that’s why I signed that deal, that first year, man, most fun ball I had. Some of the most fun ball I had playing in my life. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed playing in Brooklyn a lot. I loved playing for Brooklyn, but it’s just so much around the guys who were committed to the situation but everybody else wasn’t. It just was weird.”
—Kevin Durant
Compounding Factors: Injuries, Absences, and Internal Discord
The roster’s internal issues, such as Kyrie Irving’s extended absence due to his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and James Harden’s growing frustrations culminating in trade demands, contributed heavily to the turmoil. Durant believed that while he and Nash were dedicated to the team‘s success, not all members shared the same commitment, leading to a fractured locker room.
Nash pointed to injuries as a crucial factor, particularly criticizing the decision to have Harden play through a hamstring injury during their single playoff run in 2021. He expressed mixed feelings about his leadership period in Brooklyn, admitting personal doubts yet recognizing elements beyond his control affected outcomes.
Durant, meanwhile, emphasized that many responsibilities fell on Nash beyond coaching protocol, making Nash more of a disciplinarian than a pure coach at times.
Implications for Durant’s Future and the Rockets
These revelations from Durant and Nash shed light on the complexities and struggles behind the scenes of one of the NBA’s most hyped championship hopefuls. As Durant embarks on the next chapter with the Houston Rockets, his experiences in Brooklyn highlight the challenges of blending star talent within a stable and focused environment. How he and the Rockets navigate these lessons may be critical in determining their chances to end the franchise’s decades-long title drought.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Has Kevin Durant ever scored 50?
A. On April 2, 2022, Kevin Durant scored more than 50 points in a single game against the Hawks.