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After knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Brooklyn Nets at the moment are 10-4 and tied for first place within the East standings with the Washington Wizards. The sport might have had a bit one thing further for Kevin Durant and James Harden since they each started their careers with the Thunder.
Technically, KD was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics, although it was in Oklahoma Metropolis the place most of his early-career reminiscences have been shaped. After the sport, each superstars got the possibility to mirror.
Durant etched his seventh sport with 30 factors or extra by finishing with 33 total to go together with eight boards and 4 assists. It solely took the common season scoring chief 17 subject targets to get there since he was a stellar 13 of 14 from the road. These are each season highs in free throws made and tried for the two-time Finals MVP.
KD gained his 2014 common season MVP award in OKC. After the sport, he was given the possibility to mirror and was nostalgic on his Thunder days.
“Yeah you consider the muse,” Durant shared. “And the place you constructed your self up as a professional and that is positively the spot for me. Taught me all about what it means to be a professional, folks right here within the group, actually guided me as a younger participant. that set the muse for what I’m in the present day. So lots of nice reminiscences coming again, seeing lots of people and it’s good to see people right here and play in entrance of this crowd, it’s been a minute so I had fun.”
Kevin Durant permits himself to mirror on his OKC days after the win vs. Thunder.
“You concentrate on your basis, the place you constructed your self up as a professional and this was positively the spot for me….” pic.twitter.com/p742iFOQG8— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) November 15, 2021
It was the primary time that Kevin Durant and James Harden returned to OKC as teammates with the Nets. The duo spent three full seasons collectively there and made it to the NBA Finals in 2012, the place they misplaced to LeBron James and the Miami Warmth.
“It’s loopy how stuff occurs,” remembered Durant. “I by no means thought when James received traded [from OKC] I didn’t know what the longer term will maintain and for us to come back again round on the identical crew as we received older is fairly candy. Coming right here and obtain the love that we received from the followers you simply know we put in lots of work right here we helped construct this factor so it’s good to come back in right here and see what it’s in the present day.”
James Harden, who was traded away by the Thunder as they have been then trying to save a couple of bucks in luxurious taxes, was much less introspective.
When provided the possibility to reminisce, he wasn’t actually feeling it. Was it further particular for him to return? “No,” stated The Beard. “I’m simply attempting to come back in and win. For me it’s been a very long time so.”
Was Harden stunned there have been a number of boos from the Thunder devoted headed his manner?
“I don’t know, wasn’t my fault so I don’t know, I don’t actually care, actually.”
James Harden was requested if he is stunned they nonetheless boo him in OKC.
“I do not know. It wasn’t my fault. (laughs). So I do not know, I do not actually care, actually. pic.twitter.com/z3Dkk5tS4F— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) November 15, 2021
Harden had 16 factors, six rebounds, 13 assists and three steals. He was simply 1-of-8 from the road after breaking out with 39 factors within the final win on Friday versus New Orleans.
It’s not fairly clear why Harden wouldn’t be feeling very nostalgic. Does he affiliate higher emotions along with his days in Houston? That may make sense since he blossomed from a proficient scorer right into a perennial MVP candidate. Perhaps he didn’t really feel as embraced by OK, or perhaps he simply wasn’t within the temper to get sappy, who is aware of?
It’s attention-grabbing the followers booed Harden who reportedly would have stayed in Oklahoma Metropolis had the Thunder provided him a max again within the day. Thunder followers can solely look again and surprise what might need been. Some followers joked that every one the Nets must do is carry again Russell Westbrook to reform the entire 2012 Thunder group. However they really have somebody even higher than Russ in Kyrie Irving… if solely.
Within the meantime, the Nets are again dwelling with an electrical showdown looming towards one other former crew of Durant’s within the league-leading (11-2) Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry will little doubt look to proceed placing on a present at Barclays. After a six-game street journey the place the Nets went 5-1, you may guess they’ll be thrilled to get again to their very own beds in Brooklyn.
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