DURANT OPISYAL NANG NET

OPISYAL nang nadagdag sa roster ng Brooklyn Nets si  forward Kevin Durant makaraang ianunsiyo ng koponan ang kanyang pagdating bilang bahagi ng isang sign-and-trade deal sa Golden State Warriors isang linggo matapos na ihayag ng 10-time All-Star ang kanyang intensiyon na maglaro para sa Brooklyn.

“Kevin is a champion, perennial All-Star and one of the great players of this, or any, generation,” wika ni general manager Sean Marks.

“Adding a player of Kevin’s caliber to our organization elevates our ability to compete with the elite teams in this league. His tremendous abilities and dedication to his craft have made him as talented an offensive player our game has ever seen and we, as well as all of Brooklyn, are thrilled to welcome Kevin and his family to the Nets.”

Ang pag-iiba ng koponan ay hindi na bago kay Durant makaraang lisanin niya ang Oklahoma City Thunder para sa  Warriors, tatlong summers na ang nakararaan, subalit magsusuot siya ng bagong numero sa unang pagkakataon magmula nang pumasok sa NBA: No. 7.

Tinweet ni Durant noong Linggo ang litrato ng Nets No. 7 jersey na nakasabit sa isang locker. Idinagdag niya ang statement mula sa kanyang business, ang Thirty Five Ventures, na nagpapaliwanag sa desisyon na magbago  ng numero, at nakasaad na:

“35 took my family and me from Seat Pleasant, MD and showed us the world. 35 allowed me to meet people that I never would’ve had the chance to meet, experience things I would never have had the chance to experience, and achieve things that I never would have been able to achieve.

“35 allowed me to go to the University of Texas to play basketball, 35 allowed me to achieve my dream of playing in the NBA in Seattle. 35 allowed me to play basketball in Oklahoma City and form bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime.

“Lastly, 35 allowed me to go to the Bay Area and win two championships and form brotherhoods that no time or distance will ever break.

“35 was chosen in honor of someone very near and dear to me. I will always honor him and honor the number 35. But as I start this new chapter in my basketball life, the number I’ll be wearing on my back is the number 7 next time you see me on the floor. One time Brooklyn.”

Isinuot ni Durant ang  No. 35 jersey magmula noong siya ay 16-anyos.

Inanunsiyo ng Warriors noong nakaraang linggo na ireretiro na nila ang No. 35 ni Durant.

Inaasahang hindi makapaglalaro si Durant sa kabuuan ng   2019-20 season dahil ruptured Achilles na kanyang natamo sa Game 5 ng NBA Finals laban sa Toronto Raptors.

Ang dating MVP ay may average na 26 points, 6.4 rebounds at  5.9 assists sa 78 games para sa Warriors noong nakaraang season. Mayroon siyang career averages na 27 points, 7.1 rebounds at 4.1 assists sa 849 games.