Kevin Durant – Kyrie Irving ‘pissed off’ he cannot play at dwelling however Brooklyn Nets’ title window open past this season

NEW YORK — Kevin Durant says Kyrie Irving is “pissed off” that he nonetheless can’t play Nets dwelling video games due to New York Metropolis’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but additionally thinks Brooklyn’s championship window extends past this season no matter when his star teammate returns on a fulltime foundation.

“He is pissed off in not with the ability to play,” Durant mentioned after Monday’s shootaround. “He figured these items could be rolled again by now, we would be well beyond this. Nevertheless it’s the scenario we’re in, we acquired to take care of it, he is acquired to take care of it. Trusting that it will get figured on the market quickly. I’ve no clue what might occur, however I am simply trusting that issues will work itself out. However I am certain he misses enjoying in entrance of a house crowd and the house crowd, vice versa, they miss him. So hopefully we get it found out quickly.”

Durant referred to as out New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams by title after a March 13 win over the New York Knicks, on the identical day Irving, who isn’t vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, sat courtside at Barclays Middle, however couldn’t play within the recreation due to town’s mandate. Durant acknowledged what many within the Nets group have recognized for months, and that Irving himself has made clear since returning as a part-time participant on Jan. 5 — he won’t be getting the shot.

“I imply, what’s it, April virtually?” Durant mentioned. “It is fairly apparent that he is not going to take the shot. So like I mentioned, simply concentrate on who you might be and what you deliver to the crew every single day and as soon as that scenario will get found out, then it is going to. It is out of my management, it is out of all people else’s management. So you possibly can’t power anyone to do something. So simply attempt to simply concentrate on me.”

Durant defined why he felt so many individuals contained in the constructing have stayed behind Irving, regardless of lingering frustration throughout the group that he selected to not get vaccinated.

“We love Kyrie as a human being,” Durant mentioned. “I do not suppose we have been ever upset at him as a lot as individuals on the surface have been. We get that it might have an effect on the result of some basketball video games, however that is not the one motive why we love Kyrie as an individual as a result of what he can deliver to the courtroom. I believe total him as a human being, we respect who he’s, we respect the sport on prime of that.

“He made the choice for himself, so that you simply acquired to respect it and transfer ahead. We wasn’t coming in right here every single day pissed off at him as a result of he wasn’t round. We’re simply making an attempt to concentrate on us individually and who was on this constructing as a collective and let that stuff work itself out. When he was in a position to come again in right here, it felt like nothing modified.”

Can the Nets nonetheless attain their final purpose of a championship this season if the mandate is not rolled again?

“If it would not, we would be lacking an enormous piece of our crew,” Durant mentioned. “However we have nonetheless acquired to go on the market and play the sport. We have been saying that regardless of who’s on the ground, you’ve got nonetheless acquired to go on the market and play and hoop. We would like to have Kyrie on the market, being on the market, but when they are not, the remainder of the fellows simply acquired to go play and stay with the outcomes. I believe we’re all snug with that.”

What Durant, 33, can be snug with is the concept that it doesn’t matter what occurs the remainder of this season, he nonetheless feels the Nets are positioned effectively to compete for titles sooner or later. He was requested whether or not he felt there could be regrets about this season if it would not pan out the way in which the group hoped.

“In case you’re it as if, like, that is our solely probability to ever do one thing particular with this group — and different individuals it that method — then I can see why,” Durant mentioned. “However to be trustworthy, I signed right here for 5 years to play. You already know what I am saying? , clearly this yr’s essential, however it doesn’t matter what occurs this yr, I nonetheless need to do it once more. And once more. I need to proceed to play, have this group collectively so long as we will. So brief time period, we will concentrate on that for certain, however we additionally trying on the massive image of issues, too.

“Seeing how we will construct one thing sustainable for greater than only a yr or two or three. I do know I am getting previous, however I really feel like I am mentally and bodily in a strong house to contribute to a company that is able to develop and attain new heights. It is at all times going to be rocky at first initially, whenever you begin making an attempt to start out one thing new. So I am enthusiastic about what the longer term holds, however I additionally need as a lot as we will get within the second as effectively.”

In different phrases, the previous MVP believes the Nets’ title window goes to be open for at the very least just a few years.

“I am not guaranteeing that we acquired a championship,” Durant mentioned. “However I identical to what we’re constructing. And I am not going to say that is the one yr we have got a chance to struggle and work in the direction of one thing. I do not suppose subsequent yr we have got to start out all the way in which over and take a look at to determine what is the subsequent iteration of the Nets. I really feel like we will simply construct on what we’ve got and see what occurs. We acquired guys which are dedicated and need to be right here.”

A kind of gamers in new swingman Ben Simmons, who was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier than final month’s commerce deadline. Simmons nonetheless hasn’t been cleared to apply as he recovers from a again harm — and it stays unclear when he’ll have the ability to play this season. Durant made it clear he would not need Simmons to hurry again — and needs to ensure his again is totally wholesome each time he returns.

“He is doing good,” Durant mentioned of Simmons. “He seems good so far as simply strolling round and being across the crew. Have not seen him do something on the basketball courtroom as a lot, however a pair walk-through issues. However I believe his spirits are in the fitting place and he is excited to be part of the group and looking out ahead to having him out on the ground — I positively don’t need him to hurry again for us and his again isn’t proper, so take on a regular basis he must get his physique proper and as soon as he is on the market we’re able to rock and roll.”