Kevin Durant says Mike Brown and the Kings are ‘a perfect pairing’
Nov 16, 2022, 9:05 AM
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets is guarded by Harrison Barnes #40 and Kevin Huerter #9 of the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 15, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
In 2016, the Golden State Warriors added Kevin Durant to its roster and Mike Brown to its coaching staff.
Together, the pair helped bring two NBA Championships to the organization over a three-year span.
Durant left for Brooklyn in 2019 and this past summer, Brown departed the Golden State’s sidelines to lead the Sacramento Kings.
After Tuesday night’s blowout win, Durant was asked his thoughts about Brown and the Kings.
“They got a lot, they got a deep team, they got a lot of guys that can play real minutes on any NBA team,” Durant said following the game. “They got 10, 11 guys that can do that. When you step into a situation like that, you got two All-Star caliber players in [Domantas] Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. That’s a great team to build with. So it was a great choice by Mike to choose the Sacramento Kings. And it’s great by Sacramento to give Mike a chance because he’s been a part of championship groups for the last six, seven years. Just a perfect pairing, I think.”
The game was tied at 40 a piece shortly into the second quarter. But the Kings would end the half on a 33-14 run.
Durant went on to give the Kings credit for playing fast and making shots. Sacramento shot 60% from the field and nearly 50% from the three-point line. He added it’s demoralizing when teams make shots like that. And it’s not like the Nets were shooting poorly, either. Brooklyn shot 50% from the field and 40% from the three-point line.
“It’s not like we didn’t try,” Durant said. “It just felt like they were better than us on the offensive side of the ball…I wouldn’t say it was just a lack of effort or guys didn’t care, it was just that they were just better. Sometimes they’re just better than you.”
