KD mentioned he was offered on Nets system, GM says
Kevin Durant instructed the Nets that he selected to go to Brooklyn in free company as a result of he loves the way in which the crew performs, basic supervisor Sean Marks mentioned.
Marks instructed WFAN on Tuesday that when he first talked with Durant after the announcement, the previous MVP mentioned: “I like the system. I like the way you guys play. I see how arduous you guys play … you have been by no means out of video games. We may by no means take you guys calmly.”
Marks did not have any conversations with Durant earlier than he made his selection, however he voiced no concern about that.
“I feel everyone knows what we’re getting with Kevin,” Marks mentioned. “The expertise is plain.”
Marks came upon about Durant’s choice the identical manner most NBA followers did: on the participant’s Instagram account a couple of minutes after free company started the night of June 30.
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Max Kellerman argues that Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will not be price their contracts if they do not return near kind.
“What we knew was we have been both getting a teleconference name with Kevin that night time or we have been going to probably get a gathering,” Marks mentioned. “We might seen some media experiences earlier within the day that Kevin had crossed a number of groups off his checklist, and we have been nonetheless [being considered]. And people experiences have been there for everyone to learn. After which when Kevin posted it on The Boardroom Instagram website, that was information to all of us within the workplace.”
Marks mentioned he is aware of Durant goes to assault his rehab from a torn Achilles tendon suffered within the NBA Finals “like no different.”
Requested when he anticipated the 10-time All-Star to return, Marks mentioned, “I don’t know. We’re definitely not going to hurry him again. There’s going to be completely none of that. We’ve got far an excessive amount of invested in him, and we owe it to Kevin to get him again to 100 p.c.”
The Nets’ place within the standings will not play any function in when Durant comes again, Marks mentioned.
“That is completely going to be a Kevin Durant choice,” he mentioned.
Kevin Durant had no conversations with the Nets earlier than making his choice, GM Sean Marks mentioned. Stephen Dunn/Getty Pictures
Marks credited coach Kenny Atkinson with instilling the angle and relentless model of play that Durant admired. He acknowledged that with elite gamers resembling Durant and All-Star Kyrie Irving now main the crew, the connection between the hard-driving coach and gamers would possibly change.
“I feel all the things has to vary barely. We have not had that kind of expertise. Issues are going to vary, issues are going to adapt, they must,” Marks mentioned. “They’ve to begin driving the tradition. We’ve got to study from them. These guys are elite stage gamers. We’ve got to see what we are able to study from them.”
However, he mentioned, “I can guarantee you Kenny shouldn’t be going to be something totally different than who Kenny is.”
Marks is trying ahead to seeing how a Nets crew with Durant and Irving will unfold.
“I am undoubtedly enthusiastic about — Kevin, for positive, the entire group and actually the problem of getting all these guys collectively on the identical web page and watching the way it unfolds,” he mentioned. “I feel that is the magic, and that is the true particular piece the place you see elite expertise … wish to play collectively and see who’s going to sacrifice what and who’s going to convey what to the desk and simply see how all of them mesh.”