Kevin Durant explains why doesn't deserve a tribute video from Brooklyn Nets

MIAMI — Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant elaborated on saying his return to Brooklyn “would be better” without a tribute video of him in a response on social media.

“What did I do to deserve that?” Durant said about a tribute video after Sunday’s loss at Orlando.

“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.”

The Suns (26-20) play Monday at Miami before traveling to Brooklyn for Wednesday’s much-anticipated game that’s being nationally televised on ABC.

“I don’t expect anything from anybody,” Durant said. “I just want people to come and enjoy the game and come support the game of basketball. Whatever they do in between the time, then they do it, but I can’t control that.”

Durant doesn’t feel he achieved enough in Brooklyn, played for the franchise long enough, or connected with the fans well enough to warrant a tribute video.

The Nets never won an NBA title in his four seasons there. He missed the first one in 2019-20 recovering from an Achilles injury sustained in the 2019 finals while playing for Golden State. The Nets advanced past the first round only once in Durant's four seasons when they pushed eventual NBA champion Milwaukee to seven games in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals.

“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 feels like his only impactful game with Brooklyn was in a Game 5 win against the Bucks to give the Nets a 3-2 series lead. Durant posted a monster triple double of 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.

“That’s the only game that had a lasting impact on anybody,” Durant said.

The Bucks took the next two to win the series. Durant scored 48 points in Game 7 as he looked to hit a 3 to win the series on the final shot in regulation, but his toe was ruled on the 3-point line.

Milwaukee won the game in overtime, 115-111.

Boston eliminated Brooklyn in the first round of the 2022 playoffs as it advanced to the finals before losing to Golden State. The Nets put together a Big 3 in James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Durant, but they only played in 16 games together and fell short of championship expectations.

“I just think if we had more time, for sure, we could’ve did some special s--t, but we didn’t have no time,” Durant said. “Fans can’t connect with that.”

Durant responded on X, formerly known as Twitter, to Adam Armbrecht's post that the Nets will give Durant a tribute video “for the PR of it all.”

A co-host of “Locked On Nets” podcast with Doug Norrie, Armbrecht started the tweet with “lower profile guys get videos because there is no real stakes to their time with the team” and continued with “a superstar talent is tied to the results.”

Durant replied, “Please don’t, the night will be better without it.”

Then NetsFrequent responded, “He requested more trades than playoff series won during his time here. Why would we give him a tribute video” in talking about Durant.

Never shy in engaging on X, Durant said, “Seems like me and the Nets frequent on the same page.”

After Sunday’s game, Durant said he didn’t play with Brooklyn long enough nor “connect” with the fans enough for a tribute video.

“I know when I’m done playing, every team I play for going to want to be attached to me in some way, but when I’m playing right now, it doesn’t make any sense,” Durant said. “I’ll wait for all of that stuff when I’m done, but for now, I wasn’t there long enough. Me and the fans didn’t connect enough for me to feel like a part of them. That’s just my thoughts.”

Durant said he wasn’t speaking for Nets General Manager Sean Marks or the organization in terms of what the franchise may have planned for Durant’s return.

“I have no clue what they’ll do, but if you’re asking my opinion,” Durant said.

Durant’s four seasons in Brooklyn came after a sign-and-trade with Golden State in the summer of 2019.

The Warriors won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018 with Durant winning finals MVPs in each one. Golden State replayed a tribute video honoring Durant in the 2023-24 season opener against the Suns at Chase Center in San Francisco five years removed from his last year with the franchise.

Fans couldn’t attend his first return game in February 2021 due to the pandemic. The Warriors said then they’d replay the video when Durant played before fans.

Durant missed out on the next two opportunities against the Warriors at Golden State due to knee injuries.

The Suns then acquired Durant in a blockbuster deal right before last season’s trade deadline that sent Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to Brooklyn.

Phoenix was scheduled to play March 13, 2023, at Golden State, but Durant injured his ankle during pregame warmups five days earlier before what would’ve been his home opener with the Suns.

The Suns opened this season at Golden State. Durant embraced the video, reacted to the crowd’s cheering and standing ovation, and appreciated being recognized for his time in Golden State.

“A lot of good moments in the video,” Durant said Phoenix won, 108-104. “I was able to relive some of the moments really quick. But it was good to come in and start the season off right with a W.”

Now Durant is returning to Brooklyn for his first matchup against the Nets at Barclays Center.

Brooklyn won in Phoenix earlier this season as Bridges and Johnson played for the first time against the Suns since the trade.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant says he didn't 'have lasting impact' for Nets tribute video