Kevin Durant Explains Why He Doesn’t Deserve A Tribute Video From The Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant got real on why he doesn't think he deserves a tribute video from the Brooklyn Nets.

4 Min Read

Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant might have had a short stint with the Brooklyn Nets which didn’t result in any material success for the franchise, but he’s still one of the best players to ever put on a Nets jersey. Ahead of his first return to Brooklyn as a member of the Suns, Durant has explained why he doesn’t think he deserves a tribute video from the franchise.

“What did I do to deserve that? Seriously, or is it because of my name? I’m just another player, man. I don’t deserve none of this extra attention, everybody looking at me when the game starts. The game is about all the players on the court. It ain’t about me. I was there for three years, four years and we didn’t accomplish anything worth being celebrated for. That’s just how I feel… I didn’t feel like I stayed there long enough. I didn’t put in enough work. I didn’t leave a lasting impact.” 

Durant recently sent out a social media post where he actively says that his return to Brooklyn would be better without a tribute video. He further discussed the matter with Duane Rankin, who clarified his comments further.

“I’m not expecting people to praise me or honor me,” Durant said. “I didn’t even pose the question. Somebody else brought it up randomly out of nowhere. I just gave them my input on that. I don’t feel like I deserve one. I didn’t feel like I stayed there long enough. I didn’t put in enough work. I didn’t leave a lasting impact.”

Durant was a three-time All-Star on the Nets and made one All-NBA team with the franchise, a pretty average resume given the lack of playoff success.


Kevin Durant’s Time In Brooklyn Doesn’t Need A Tribute

Most players don’t decline tribute videos like that, so it was odd to see why KD was so against the idea of a video for himself. It makes more sense with the explanation he gave, as Durant didn’t achieve anything special in Brooklyn.

Durant joined the Nets in 2019 and missed his first season while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. He was back for the 2020-21 season, their best shot at winning a title in this era. Injuries led to that version of the Nets collapsing in the second round to eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks, with Durant being the only healthy Nets star in that series after injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

By the 2022 playoffs, the team had made so many big trades to appease Durant and Kyrie Irving that their asset cabinet was bare as the team fell to a first-round sweep to the eventual finalists, Boston Celtics. The team didn’t make it to the 2023 Playoffs with their star duo, as Durant was dealt to the Suns after Kyrie forced his way out of the franchise and ended up with the Dallas Mavericks.

He was one of the best players to walk through the franchise but the toxicity around his time on the team meant that they had no tangible success together. Honoring him just because he’s Kevin Durant seems hollow, as even the forward understands he had to achieve a lot more than what he did in Brooklyn.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support. 

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *