Durant said he found out about the news regarding Nash around 1:15 p.m. ET after he woke up from a pregame nap and watched ESPN. Nets general manager Sean Marks said before the game that no players were consulted before the decision, which is notable, given Durant reportedly asked for Nash and Marks to be fired over the summer before rescinding his trade request before the season.
Durant developed a solid relationship with Nash during their time with the Golden State Warriors, when Nash served as a player development consultant. He was asked why he thought it didn’t work out for Nash in Brooklyn.
“A lot of stuff,” Durant said. “We didn’t have a healthy team. We just didn’t play well. And that’s what happens in the league. S— happens. That doesn’t take away from Steve’s basketball IQ, how he teaches the game. I don’t think that takes away from anything. It just didn’t work out.”
Durant said he has not yet spoken to Nash since the move became official. With Jacques Vaughn serving as interim head coach, the Nets fell to 2-6 after Tuesday’s loss. Durant has said several times over the past year, and reiterated again Tuesday night, that he believed Nash wasn’t dealt a fair hand given all the circumstances surrounding his two-and-a-half-year tenure.