Kevin Durant Speaks on Brooklyn Ahead of Matchup: 'I'm a Net for Life'

Durant, a former Net, will face his old team for the third time since leaving for the Phoenix Suns.

Jan 31, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) talks to Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Brooklyn Nets will face Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns tonight at the Footprint Center. Durant is set to face his previous team for the third time since getting traded to the Suns in 2023.

Dana Scott of azcentral asked Durant about facing the Nets, and the future Hall-of-Famer had nothing but positive things to say about Brooklyn.

“I'm a Net for life. I'm always gonna say that; I always feel that," Durant said. "It's gonna be in my heart and my blood forever. So it's always good to see family, people that I grinded with."

"But they're [Brooklyn Nets] playing great ball. People didn't expect them to be out here beating teams like Golden State… They have some good wins throughout the season so far. So looking forward to seeing everybody and competing against them.”

Kevin Durant said he couldn’t have returned sooner from his left calf strain after seven games out, and was “grateful” for the Suns’ 5-day break to help him recover.

Durant later added “I’m a Net for life” when asked about facing his ex-team Nets in second of B2B on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/3FmGWbGjdC

— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) November 27, 2024

Durant played 129 regular-season games with the Nets across three seasons and spent nearly four years with the franchise after signing with Brooklyn in 2019. As a Net, the forward averaged 29.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.

Durant's tenure with the Nets was so impactful that the team gave him a tribute video in his return to the Barclays Center last season. However, Durant made it known that he didn't want one.

In the two times his Suns have faced the Nets, Durant has averaged 30.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks. In his first game, Brooklyn defeated the Suns on the road, 116-112, but Phoenix got the best of the Nets in the Barclays Center, winning 136-120.

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