Kevin Durant Speaks Out on Rumors of Kyrie Leaving Brooklyn

Kevin Durant is addressing the reports.

The Brooklyn Nets superstar said he isn’t involved in Kyrie Irving’s free agency, adding:

“I just let things play out and see what happens,” adding “Whatever happens, the friendship will still be there.”

Durant was not asked directly about whether an Irving decision to exit Brooklyn would effect his standing with the Nets. Multiple reports  have suggested that if Irving leaves, Durant might not be far behind. KD, of course, signed a four-year, $198 million extension a year ago. The extension goes into effect this coming season.

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Kevin Durant Monitoring Situation as List of Teams Kyrie Would be Willing to Play For Has Been Revealed 👀https://t.co/Yk0TwNBGIK

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) June 23, 2022

Durant’s main point in talking about Irving’s free agency was that he is not involved in Irving’s decision, that it’s Irving’s to make.

“It’s no involvement at all. I can’t be involved with it,” he said. “This is this man’s livelihood. This is much bigger than me. Being a free agent, it’s one of the most important times in your career. That can’t be swayed by anybody else. I just do me and wait for the time.

“There’s nothing that can happen right now. I don’t think he can even make a decision on opting out until the 29th, I think. I just let things play out and see what happens, but keep the regular contact up with Kai and see what happens. It’s something that’s so much out of my control that I don’t want to be a part of it. We’ll see what happens though.”

Regarding the friendship factor in Irving’s free agency decision

“That’s where I’m at with it. Basketball is obviously the most important thing but I try not to let that get in the way of somebody else’s personal decision. Like I said, whatever happens, the friendship will still be there.”

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Short clip of KD talking about the Kyrie situation on The ETCs: pic.twitter.com/IaCWmlOZGL

— Leb 🦋 (@PlayboiLeb) June 24, 2022

He also briefly discussed “reports” surrounding him and Irving.

“It’s just reports. You know, that go around this time, the Draft, the Finals just ended. You just got to keep that dialogue going, keep that engagement going. So, obviously, it’s an interesting topic. There’s a lot going on with our team. Uncertainty with Ben not playing with us, us being swept in the playoffs, Kyrie’s situation being a free agent. So there’s a lot of certainty with our team. I understand why there’s so much noise around us, but as individuals, you control what you can.

“If the time’s right, everything will work out for itself.”

Wo  discussed what the Nets could get for KD if Brooklyn was forced to deal him.

“Brooklyn would be able to put together a trade package and get back a haul that might historic in nature,” he said. “We’ve never seen a player of Kevin Durant’s stature, at the top of his game at the very top of the league who’s under contract long-term becoming available in the trade market.”

This is all just posturing for Kyrie to get his extension. We’ll see how it plays out.

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