NBA Twitter reacts to Kevin Durant’s awkward return to the Nets
The Nets’ dramatic offseason has taken another surprising turn, but the organization is finally celebrating a victory, as the standoff with superstar Kevin Durant has seemingly been resolved in the best possible way for Nets fans.
In a meeting with a few of the very same people Durant asked to be fired, the former league MVP came to an understanding with Nets execs, rescinded his trade request and committed to delivering a championship to Brooklyn.
The Nets announced in a tweet that coach Steve Nash, general manager Sean Marks, governor Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai met with Durant in Los Angeles, and that the group is now focused on building a “lasting franchise.”
Given that just a few weeks ago Durant reiterated his desire to be traded, or to have Marks and Nash fired should he stay, it’s a stunning turnaround at a key moment for the Nets with the new season quickly approaching.
Here’s what NBA fans and analysts were saying about the news:
Kevin Durant returning to the Nets pic.twitter.com/OvTMCHJzd8
— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) August 23, 2022
"The Brooklyn Nets have decided to continue forward with this partnership" pic.twitter.com/A1Ct5Uoqdv
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) August 23, 2022
Steve Nash convincing KD to stay with the Nets in their meeting pic.twitter.com/dGo8dJuo4B
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) August 23, 2022
Statement from Sean Marks and the Netspic.twitter.com/D1dVkdpMtP
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) August 23, 2022
Congrats to the Nets or whatever 😎 pic.twitter.com/vFDu8b6uN4
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) August 23, 2022
How much of this was that the Nets couldn’t get back what KD was worth and how much of it was actually finding a genuine resolution to whatever initial issues existed? Looking forward to hearing what specific differences were worked out and also seeing them run it back 🔥 https://t.co/OJnUAxMx8F
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 23, 2022
Durant: Trade me
Nets: NoDurant: Fire the coach and GM
Nets: NoDurant: I might retire
Nets: No you won’tDurant: OK, I will play
Nets: Sounds good— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) August 23, 2022
I’m happy to hear that Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai worked out a deal with the dynamic superstar Kevin Durant and his agent Rich Kleiman that made KD happy and want to stay with the Nets to try to bring a championship to Brooklyn!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 23, 2022
Great. Love it. Now, who's going to reimburse Nets fans for all those therapy session copays? https://t.co/bOxbxCQ2dq
— Tom Lorenzo (@TomLorenzo) August 23, 2022
Kevin Durant and the Nets front office are living out the end of Gone Girl together. Miserable, defeated, totally committed to one another.
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) August 23, 2022
Kevin Durant showing up to Nets camp. pic.twitter.com/Ro66oxGOt3
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 23, 2022
*Media Day in Brooklyn next month*
Reporter: “Kevin, are you happy to be back in Brooklyn with the Nets?”
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 23, 2022
The Nets and KD: pic.twitter.com/PHGdb0WnHH
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) August 23, 2022
Nets Front Office to KD: pic.twitter.com/TGCXnuJzpf
— My Fault (@uglynewyork) August 23, 2022
Nets fans should be thanking their lucky stars for Rudy Gobert
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) August 23, 2022
Kevin Durant failing to get traded from the Nets pic.twitter.com/U8Bj1kV1ib
— Conan O’Brien’s illegitimate son (@pleasesueme) August 23, 2022
Just to be clear, this isn't just a situation of the #Nets convincing Kevin Durant to give them a year, run it back for one season in a championship-or-bust swing, and then moving him next summer. They plan on this being a long-term marriage.
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) August 23, 2022
The awkwardness of this meeting after KD wanted the Nets to fire Nash and Marks must have been incredible https://t.co/xi8KOMuyeG
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) August 23, 2022
Them having to photoshop Ben Simmons into a Nets jersey is killing me https://t.co/u7f38PKc7z
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) August 23, 2022
The Nets winning a staring contest against a superstar feels pretty significant.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) August 23, 2022
