There are players who were opponents in the eyes of the fans and the Nets have recruited them to be one of the leading teams in the NBA now
In the era of ‘super teams’ in the NBA, 2021 gives us a very special one, one that looks like ‘super villains’. The Brooklyn Nets brought in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and James Harden this season last season, three big stars in the league, as well as three players who have been antagonists in the eyes of fans, analysts and even some former teammates.
Kyrie Irving, champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, was the first to join the New York team, and he was the only one to have a bet last season. Irving is an “ununderstood genius” to some, a “diva” to others; has a long history of disagreements with different organizations and teammates; from his forced departure from Cleveland, to leaving the shadow of Lebron James, who he hinted at several years later and who recently made fun of when he missed a free throw in the Lakers’ game against the Nets, to his tumultuous stint at Boston Celtics and their recent decision not to speak to the media.
Kevin Durant joined Irving in the same free agency, recovering from an Achilles tendon injury he sustained in the 2019 final with the Golden State Warriors., KD saw no action in 2020. To his critics, Durant has been a player who has taken the easy path to becoming an NBA champion, joining a Warriors squad that had already reached two finals, and the Larry O’Brien trophy. had won before coming and also had stars such as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. While Durant proved his worth in the team by becoming the MVP of the California team’s next two championships, there are still those who point out to him that he didn’t stay in the Oklahoma Thunder to try and win a title with Russell Westbrook, who did not like his partner’s decision and whose relationship was severed by how things have gone since then.
In the end, the Nets went for a James Harden, who did not want to continue with the Houston Rockets and was criticized for being overweight in the preseason and in the Texas team’s first games. Brooklyn had to give up four players and three first round picks to acquire Harden in a four-team trade. The movement of the ‘Beard’ was reproached by his then companions. Before leaving, Harden stated that “the situation could not be resolved” and thanked him for his time in Houston, to which John Wall later blamed him, “There are 9 games and you want to get off the boat,” while Demarcus Cousins deleted a disrespectful way in which he handled his departure. James Harden, the NBA’s top scorer in three seasons, has also been criticized for his lack of playoff success and his lack of commitment in the defensive game.
So far, and while both Irving and Durant have been off the field with injuries at various times, not seriously, the Nets are stalking the top of the NBA East, with a winning streak of 8 games. Brooklyn’s combination of talents leaves them with the championship as the only happy ending, and while this isn’t usually the preserve of the “ super villains, ” Kyrie, KD, and Harden feel differently.