Kevin Durant: 'Maybe I Was Reaching a Little Bit' Calling Bucks a Dynasty

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant had high praise for the Milwaukee Bucks this summer, calling them a dynasty after they won the 2021 NBA championship.

Despite the Nets suffering a 127-104 loss to the defending champs in Tuesday's season opener, Durant said he had a change of heart.

"Maybe I was reaching a little bit," Durant said with a smile when asked about his comments about the Bucks.

Durant, who led Brooklyn with 32 points and 11 rebounds in Tuesday's loss, said he was referring to the Bucks' ability to keep their core group together.

"I just look at it as it's hard in the league for four or five guys to stay together as long as the Bucks did, through the ups and downs of losing in the first or second round, almost going to the Finals in 2019," Durant explained. "They've been through a lot together. That's probably what I meant more than anything."

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 32 points and 14 rebounds while Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton added 20 points apiece. Starting point guard Jrue Holiday had 12 points but exited the game early after suffering a right heel contusion.

Despite the Bucks retaining the majority of the group from last year's championship squad, Durant said he knows some teams have been prematurely labeled a dynasty, so that has led to a change in his tone.

"They're just a team with some continuity," Durant said. "I take that 'dynasty' thing back. I know it's a lot how that word gets thrown around. But they have some continuity a lot of teams don't have."

The Bucks will be back in action on Thursday against the Miami Heat, while the Nets will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.