Durant defends his, Kyrie's trade requests as 'great for the league'
New Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant believes the requests made by him and former teammate Kyrie Irving to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets bolstered the NBA's popularity.
"I don't think it's bad for the league," Durant said Saturday during All-Star Weekend, courtesy of ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "It's bringing more eyes to the league, more people are more excited.
"The tweets that I get, the news hits that we got from me being traded, Kyrie being traded, it just brings more attention to the league and that's really what rakes the money in, when you get more attention. So, I think it's great for the league, to be honest."
Irving was in his last year under contract after exercising a $36.9-million player option in June 2022. However, while reportedly negotiating an extension with Brooklyn, Irving suddenly asked to be traded, as both sides failed to reach an agreement. Days later, the Nets shockingly shipped the eight-time All-Star to the Dallas Mavericks.
Durant was more destined for the long haul in Brooklyn after signing a four-year extension in 2021 that took his contract through the 2025-26 season. However, the relationship between both parties seemed to take a hit last summer, when Durant shockingly requested to be traded for the first time before later walking back that ask.
After Irving's deal, the Suns reopened talks with the Nets and struck a blockbuster agreement to pry the former MVP out of Brooklyn before the deadline, quickly shaking up the NBA landscape and priming Phoenix as one of the championship favorites. Durant is expected to debut for his new side following the All-Star break.
Irving argued that more players should be able to ask out if they're not content with their current scenario.
"It's a bad situation," he said. "Why doesn't anyone have the ability to ask for trades? That's my question.
"When did it become terrible to make great business decisions for yourself and your happiness and peace of mind? Not every employer you're going to get along with, so if you have the chance to go somewhere else and you're doing it legally, I don't think there's a problem with it."