Kevin Durant is known as one of the most dominant forwards in the game of basketball. Former teammate JaVale McGee knows that all too well from seeing it up close and personal.
After spending the early portion of his career with the OKC Thunder, Durant made a change. He signed as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors before the 2016-17 season. It was an eye-opening development, especially given the fact that Golden State was coming off a 73-9 season.
Durant joined superstars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to form one of the most dangerous teams in NBA history. But another free agent joined that team the same year: veteran big man JaVale McGee.
Appearing on the "Run Your Race" podcast, McGee talked about what it was like realizing how dangerous the team would be with Kevin Durant.
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"I wasn't there the year before so I don't know the sentiment of the feeling, but once K (KD) got there, everybody just had a whole different confidence," McGee said. "Well, I don't know different, but he had a whole confidence of 'We're gonna win, like, every game we're in there. Like, we about to bust y'all ass. It's nothing y'all can do about it.'"
Kevin Durant looks to get Brooklyn Nets back on track
While Kevin Durant has had plenty of memorable years in the NBA, his biggest challenge could come this season. The Brooklyn Nets got off to a nightmare of a start this season.
Brooklyn lost five of its first six games. After a roller coaster of drama off the court, the Nets have started to show some signs of life. The team has won five of its last seven games, giving them an 11-11 record.
After everything that the Nets have been through as an organization to start the year, it's an impressive accomplishment. Brooklyn continues to show the potential to be a force in the Eastern Conference. At the heart of the team has been Kevin Durant, who continues to produce at an elite level.
Durant is up to 30.0 points per game, as well as 6.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists. The Nets have been on an impressive stretch in their last seven games, and Durant has impressed as well. Over that stretch, he's averaged 29.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.4 apg and 1.6 blocks per game. Durant is shooting 59.9%, including 33.3% from 3-point range during that time.
Brooklyn looks to have the potential to finally make some momentum up the standings in the East. Their upcoming stretch of games will be a big measuring stick. The Nets will face the Washington Wizards (11-10) on Wednesday before matchups against the Toronto Raptors (11-9) and Boston Celtics (17-4).
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