Kevin Durant: We’re Going To Keep Grinding

The Brooklyn Nets enter the new NBA season with championship aspirations and without one of their best players. Superstar Kevin Durant says the players are going to keep grinding, but sounded hopeful on Kyrie Irving.

At this point, it’s clear Kyrie Irving will not play for the Brooklyn Nets until he takes at least one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine. He joined Brooklyn at the same time as Kevin Durant.

The pair, along with James Harden were supposed to form a big 3 to rival any other team. Injuries kept them from playing together as much as they would have liked last season.

Now, Irving’s stance on the vaccine will keep the three from combining on the court.

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“Definitely want Kyrie to be around,” Kevin Durant said. 

“I wish none of this stuff would happen, but this is the situation that we are in. Kyrie made his decision on what he wanted to do and he chose to do what he wanted to do, and the team did the same.

“It’s on me to just focus on me, and do my job, and let those two parties handle that situation. I want our whole team together, and I want us to be at full strength, but sometimes it don’t work out that way. But I am still positive that things will work out the best for both parties.”

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From the sounds of it, Durant is thinking that his teammate will acquiesce at some point during the season.

A lot can happen. This is an entire season of a fleeting professional career we’re talking about. Irving’s pride may take over. The Nets may find themselves in trouble and need him to return. Or they may find themselves in a position to challenge for the title. Irving would be one hell of an option to bring back into the fold in those circumstances.

“Just focus on what we got in this locker room,” Durant said. “When [Irving] is ready, I am sure he will talk to [team owner] Joe [Tsai] and [general manager] Sean [Marks] and they’ll figure it out and they’ll tell us. Until then we are going to keep grinding.”