via Getty
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant attend Philadelphia 76ers v Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images)
via Getty
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant attend Philadelphia 76ers v Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets enter this season as one of the biggest contenders for the NBA title. With both their superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving fit and a young core of Dinwiddie, LeVert and Allen, the Nets will hope that the team can co-exist and reach the heights.
The two stars faced off against each other many times. The most memorable one, however, was in the 2017 NBA Finals, when Durant had to defend against Kyrie in the finals.
In a recent Instagram live session, Durant claimed that his defensive performance against Kyrie in the 2017 finals was probably the best full court defense played on him.
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KD said, “When I decided to guard you for those 2-3 minutes, nobody had seen you for 3 minutes. I was wondering where Kyrie was at when I got on him.”
Kevin Durant says his defense on Kyrie Irving in NBA Finals was best full court defense played on him his whole career.
KD: “When I decided to guard you for those 2-3 minutes, nobody had seen you for 3 minutes. I was wondering where Kyrie was at when I got on him.” pic.twitter.com/m8GpWtYR2B
— 👑📍Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, M.A. (@ScoopB) December 13, 2020
NBA fans all around the world will be eager to see the return of both the stars, as they are set to play their first pre-season game later tonight against the Washington Wizards.
Can Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving lead the Nets to Championship?
Kevin Durant is coming off of a long layoff after an Achilles injury. He missed the whole 2019-20 season and making his return today in the pre-season game against the Wizards.
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KD has looked amazing in the practice sessions and will be eager to silence his doubters. He joins a stacked roster with Kyrie and young stars.
via Imago
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 18: Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant warm up at the 67th NBA All-Star Game: Team LeBron Vs. Team Stephen at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Kyrie, on the other hand, only played 20 games last season. Given his recent comments about the media, he will be under heavy scrutiny by multiple members of the industry.
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KD has already shown that he can easily operate in a system where he is not the primary ball-handler. So a fight between him and Irving is out of the question. The Nets will hope that both the stars can also gel with the core of younger players like Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Jarrett Allen.
The Brooklyn Nets look like an intriguing specimen, and with two superstars like Durant and Irving- they are the team to beat. If one of their younger players can step up, and the superstars perform to their best, the Nets can surely win the championship.
