When Kevin Durant makes his nationally televised return to Brooklyn on Wednesday, he has no clue how the crowd is going to react.
Clap or curse? Cheer or jeer?
Nobody knows, least of all Durant. His relationship with Nets fans, after forcing a trade to Phoenix almost a year ago? It’s complicated. And that’s probably fair.
Durant says he doesn’t want a tribute video. The Nets did not do one for James Harden’s return, and Kyrie Irving doesn’t return until next Tuesday — a year to the day after his trade demand was officially granted.
“KD just be trolling. Y’all know how he do,” Cam Thomas said with as laugh. “I’m sure they’ll give him one. He did a lot here, whether people want to say he didn’t or not.”
But more than the front office — many of whom he is still friendly with — how will he be greeted by the fans?
“It just depends on how the people wake up that morning. A lot of people don’t know what to say or how to feel about me. So it’s up in the air on what may happen,” Durant told reporters Monday. “So I’m excited that people will come and watch the game can support the game.
“I never know how people are going to react. I don’t expect anything from anyone. I just want them to do whatever they do that’s going to allow them to have some fun that night.”
Nets fans can’t agree on the color of the sky, much less who is responsible for the breakup of the Big 3. They argue over parceling out guilt to Irving, Harden, owner Joe Tsai and Durant.
During his 3 ¹/₂ seasons in Brooklyn — equal parts terrific and tumultuous — Durant delivered twice as many trade requests as playoff series victories.
He also delivered a 49-point, 17-board, 10-assist classic in Game 5 of the 2021 conference semifinals against the Bucks, followed by 48 points and a shoe that was heartbreakingly a hair too big in a Game 7 overtime loss days later.
Durant never left the court for a second in either classic. But he did finally leave Brooklyn after Irving’s trade demand left him as the last star standing.
“I know people won’t believe it, but it was some fun, fun times playing there. We had some adversity, but getting to know other players who had to step up in those moments throughout that adversity … and we all had fun in the process. Last season was some of the funnest basketball I ever played,” said Durant, praising Jacque Vaughn.
“I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to seeing everybody and hopefully people can look at some of the great moments we had there. I know it was just a couple regular-season games, but people that followed the Brooklyn Nets, they understood what we went through, and those little moments that we had and shared as a team that the fans rallied around. So hopefully they can remember that stuff.”
They’ll remember Brooklyn winning 18 of 20 and being just a game off the league’s best record when Durant hurt his knee on Jan. 8, 2023, in Miami. They’ll also remember that was the last time he suited up for them.
How will he be get treated in Wednesday’s return?
“I’m excited,” Durant said. “It’s always fun playing in Brooklyn. It’s always fun playing in New York. I can’t wait to see some of the people that I worked with, that I got to know over the last four years. New York City has become my favorite city in the world, just from me living there for four years, and I miss it a lot.
“I grew a lot of bonds and relationships with the people that actually work in the organization and still talk to this day. So, yeah, I can’t wait to play in front of that crowd again, and see all my friends and family out there.”
How will that crowd react? Surely not with the bile Oklahoma City did for his return, or the love from Golden State. But Suns guard Eric Gordon hopes it’s leaning toward the latter. Which would be about fair.
“They’ve got to praise him because he didn’t have to go there, and he went there and made things happen,” Gordon said. “They should be praising him.”