12 September 2022
There’s been a lot of buzz concerning NBA superstar Kevin Durant lately. During the offseason, the professional basketball player asked to be traded to a different team, a move that sent waves throughout the association.
If you haven’t been in the loop you may ask, “Is Kevin Durant still playing basketball?’ We’ll answer this and more below.
Is Kevin Durant Still Playing Basketball?
To answer the question, NBA player Kevin Durant is still playing basketball. He’s currently listed on the roster of the Brooklyn Nets, the same team he played with during the 2021-2022 NBA season.
There hasn’t been any news mentioning the 6’10 forward’s retirement from the NBA. Furthermore, the All-Star himself did not say anything about abstaining from the sport. If anything, we can expect the two-time NBA champion to be present in the team’s first game, barring injuries and sanctions.
Durant had a long stint of absence after getting injured in the Finals in June 2019. He announced during the 2019-20 season that he won’t be playing or making an appearance, and in March of 2020 was placed in health and safety protocol after contracting COVID-19.
The NBA player was finally cleared on April 1 and played his first season game on December 22 versus his former team, the Golden State Warriors. Today, the `Slim Reaper’ is with the Brooklyn Nets franchise alongside Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, and Seth Curry.
Is Kevin Durant Still With the Nets?
After a disappointing first-round exit during the 2021-2022 season, Durant shocked the world by requesting a trade out of the Brooklyn Nets. However, after much fanfare, speculation, and requests, it seems that the Finals MVP will be staying with the Nets after all.
On June 30 this year, Durant requested a trade and said that he preferred the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns as possible destinations. Several other teams have expressed interest, including the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors, and the Philadelphia 76ers, just to name a few.
However, with a player that’s as talented as Durant, the trade demands are great, and not a lot of teams are willing to gut their roster or future picks to go `all in’. In free agency, the prospect lost steam and no team committed to the exorbitant trade requirements set by the Brooklyn Nets’ front office. To encourage the management to move him, Durant called for the resignation of GM Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash, but to no effect.
After a sit-down with the bigwigs, Durant announced that he will be staying with the Nets.
Did Kevin Durant Retire?
Although he had a year-long hiatus in 2019 and caused controversy in 2022, Kevin Durant shows no signs of slowing down.
For better or for worse, the perennial All-Star will be suiting up for the Brooklyn Nets and trying to make a deep run in the 2022-23 season. The Nets’ management has done a good job in the offseason, acquiring T.J Warren, Kessler Edwards, and Royce O’Neale to bolster the team and shore up weaknesses.
