Kevin Durant is proud of what he believed the Nets were building in Brooklyn before "dysfunction" brought it quickly crashing down.

Kevin Durant ’s return to Barclays Center as a member of the Phoenix Suns on Friday night was more than just another game in the 2024-25 NBA season. The former Brooklyn Nets star, who spent three and a half seasons with the team (he did sit out the entire 2019-20 season), took time to reflect on his tenure with the Nets.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, Durant wore only jersey No. 7 and put up 29.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Kevin Durant’s stint with the Brooklyn Nets shows how quickly things can change in the NBA. In 2021, the Nets looked like the favorite to win it all; instead, thanks to Durant’s huge shoe size, they were unable to knock out the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA playoffs.

It was Kevin Durant’s trade request that officially ended the Nets’ most recent window of contention. Now that they’ve finally started a rebuild two years later, Durant has watched from afar and said he can see it heading in the right direction.