Kevin Durant may not be playing in the NBA All-Star Game, but that will not stop him from choosing and captaining the team.
The strain on the Brooklyn star’s tendon kept him out until after the All-Star break, meaning Durant will not play in the March 7 event. But after being voted the most at the Eastern Conference, he will still select a list of players for Team Durant. The All-Star draft will air on March 4 on TNT.
Kyrie Irving and James Harden teamed up with Durant to give the Nets three NBA All-Stars for the first time in history, although it is uncertain whether Durant will actually make the trip to Atlanta.
Durant has an average of 29.0 points, 7.3 hitting and 5.3 assists, but lost his seventh straight game on Saturday night against Dallas and will miss out on the last two Nets games in the first half, Monday in San Antonio and Wednesday in Houston.
“You just try to encourage him,” said Joe Harris of Durant. “Obviously, it’s hard not to have it, but it’s more difficult for Kevin because he loves to play.
“He loves the game and just wants to go out to compete and play with the guys, especially after being out for an entire year. He had many ups and downs, both in the COVID protocol and now in the injury. You just try to encourage him and make sure he is doing well in that regard. “
Boston’s Jayson Tatum was promoted to title, while Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis replaced Durant on the Eastern Conference list.
Harris is on his way to a historic shooting year. He arrived on Saturday with 53.4% of the total and 50.9 in the 3-point range. No player has ever shot 50 and 50 while trying at least five or more 3s.
As a result, Harris shot the NBA’s all-time charts. He entered the season in 11th place in the percentage of 3 points of all time, and has now passed seven players to sit in fourth place with 43.7.
With the negotiation deadline a month from now, it is believed that the Nets are, at least, discreetly evaluating the value of Spencer Dinwiddie. SNY reported that the Pistons – who summoned and dropped Dinwiddie – have an interest in the injured guard.
The Nets are encouraged by the pick-and-roll skills and skill that Reggie Perry showed in the G-League, and are convinced that he can eventually hit the 3. The next step is – in addition to developing all those – “to defend at a rate better and faster ”, according to Nash.
How much Nets owner Joe Tsai paid for Liberty in 2019 was never released. But sports bankers estimate it was in the range of $ 10 million to $ 14 million, according to CNBC.