Kevin Durant Says The Nets Will Not Be Listening To Outside "Noise" This Season: "At The End Of The Day, It Does Not Matter."

Sports Illustrated

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With Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, and LaMarcus Aldridge, expectations for the Brooklyn Nets are sky high entering the 2021-22 season.

After hobbling into the Eastern Conference Semis this past summer, the Nets were eliminated by the Bucks, who would go on to win the Championship.

With a healthy team and a revamped roster, there is no reason to believe the Nets will fall short of their goals again, and the pressure is on for them to make a deep playoff run.

Regardless of what the public says, though, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are not going to be listening to the noise.

(via ESPN)

“As far as the outside noise, no disrespect for you guys (in the media), for our families, friends, and even our fans expecting us to do so much—if we don’t live up to those, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. But we want to come out and play a great brand of basketball every night and we hold ourselves to that standard. I expect us to come out there with some swagger and some intensity. But outside noise shouldn’t matter much to this group.

I think we all internally put pressure on ourselves because we hold ourselves to a high standard and you want to play well every time you step out there. That is just who we are as competitors.”

Already, drama has surfaced about Kyrie Irving and his vaccination status. Following reports of his campaign against the vaccine, and his beliefs associated with them, there is some doubt about what his availability will look like to start the season -- and that will no doubt prove to be just the start of the media circus this year.

Regardless, the team seems ready to make the most of the opportunity before them, and they are a team that should be feared in their pursuit of the NBA title.