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One of the most disappointing eras in the history of the NBA came to an end this week and Brooklyn’s Big Three experiment came to its official demise on Wednesday night following the trade of Kevin Durant.
After attempting to fast-track their way to a title by signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and trading for James Harden, the Nets ultimately won just one playoff series in the last three years before blowing it all up midway through the 2022-23 season.
If I cared, I’d go find all the headlines that said the New York has become a Nets town because they had KD, Kyrie and Harden.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) February 9, 2023
They should move the Brooklyn Nets to Seattle & call themselves the Seattle SuperSonics after how badly this poverty franchise did with Kyrie, KD, & Harden all on the same team
New York City will never love you like they do the Knicks
— Nicholas (@NicholasJLevi) February 9, 2023
KD and Kyrie showed up to New York, bitched and moaned for three years, and bounced.
— Eric Italiano (@eric_ital) February 9, 2023
Knicks fans, in particular, have been having fun with the news of the Nets’ long-gestating demise:
YOUR GARBAGE ASS FRANCHISE HAD KD KYRIE & HARDEN COULDNT MAKE IT PAST THE SECOND ROUND. WE WERE BETTER THAN YOU WITH JULIUS RANDLE & JALEN BRUNSON. WE WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST TEAM IN NEW YORK pic.twitter.com/3Yux2bt27g
— hot rod williams (@iheardyamarried) February 9, 2023
YALL CLOWNED THE KNICKS FOR NOT SIGNING KD AND KYRIE AND CLAIMED THE NETS RAN NEW YORK AND NOW WHO GOT THE LAST LAUGH?? HA HA HA
— Hana (@HanaHoops) February 9, 2023
The Brooklyn Nets won one (1) more playoff series than the New York Knicks since KD and Kyrie signed.
And now they’re both gone.
An absolute failure. New York will always be a Knicks city.
— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) February 9, 2023
On the early hours of Thursday morning, Kevin Durant — who joined the Nets as a free agent back in 2019 — was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, and four unprotected first-round picks.
Kevin Durant leaves with the same number of playoff wins in New York as Carmelo Anthony
— Andrew Claudio (@AndrewJClaudio_) February 9, 2023
KD’s reputation in New York right now: pic.twitter.com/vDPw7wNePZ
— Jimmy Joe Jerkić – Nuggets Guru ☯️ (@Jimmyjoejerkic) February 9, 2023
Brooklyn Nets fans when they see KD and Kyrie in New York: pic.twitter.com/f48pSH7CMG
— Jimmy Joe Jerkić – Nuggets Guru ☯️ (@Jimmyjoejerkic) February 9, 2023
In his first game as a member of the Dallas Maverick on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, Irving scored 24 points to go along with five assists, and four rebounds in 37 minutes of action. In that deal, the Nets got a package of Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2029 first-round pick and two future second-round picks.
Durant hasn’t played since January due to an MCL sprain, so at this time, it’s unclear when he’ll make his debut for the Phoenix Suns. With the All-Star game set to be held next weekend, it’s likely that Durant doesn’t suit up until after that.
At this time, both the Mavericks (the 4th seed in the Western Conference) and the Phoenix Suns (5th) have identical 30-26 records.
RELATED: Kyrie Irving Flames The Brooklyn Nets In Reaction To Kevin Durant Being Traded To The Phoenix Suns