Video: Kevin Durant Reflects on 'Dysfunction' of Nets Career with Kyrie, James Harden

Kevin Durant returned to Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, when his Phoenix Suns beat the host Nets 108-84.

Before the game, Durant was asked about his time in Brooklyn from 2019-2023. It ultimately didn't work out even though the Nets formed a superstar big three with him and Kyrie Irving during 2019 free agency and then James Harden via trade in Jan. 2021.

KD referenced the "dysfunction" the team went through but respected and acknowledged the support fans gave the team.

"Even though we went through a lot of dysfunction, I guess you could call it, for lack of a better term," Durant said, per Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press, "but regardless of that, a lot of people in those stands still supported, still came out and cheered loud as hell for the game of basketball and for the Nets, so that's what stood out the most."

The fact of the matter is the trio never got to play much together at all, and that's why it didn't work out. When asked about it, Durant spoke the truth (h/t Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).

The trio only played 16 games together. Unsurprisingly, they did quite well.

The Nets' best chance to see the trio's success through for a championship was in 2020-21. They were together for all of 43 seconds in the second round of the NBA playoffs against the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, however, as Harden suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 and didn't return until Game 5. Kyrie Irving suffered a sprained ankle in Game 4 and missed the rest of the series.

Still, the Nets nearly pulled off the series win but fell in seven games, losing the decider in overtime, 115-111. The Bucks went on to win their first NBA title in 50 years.

All three suffered injuries during their time together, and then Irving missed a big chunk of the 2021-22 season after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine amid New York City's vaccine mandate. He returned for the team's 36th game in Jan. 2022, but Harden issued a trade request and was gone to the Philadelphia 76ers in a month or so.

And so a promising and hyped era ended with a thud. One year later, Irving was gone to the Dallas Mavericks, and Durant departed for the Suns, both via trade. Now the Nets are rebuilding, and Harden (now a Los Angeles Clipper), Irving and KD are trying to excel with their new teams.

It's easy to wonder what might have been in Brooklyn if the trio was able to play together. They played great basketball and were certainly capable of a championship run, especially given how much they pushed the Bucks despite being shorthanded. It ended without a title, though, leaving the "What if? question lingering over that era forever.