Kevin Durant Joined Nets Because of System, Style of Play, GM Sean Marks Says

To hear Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks tell it, Kevin Durant joined his team because of an affinity for the way it plays on the court.

Marks appeared on WFAN on Tuesday and revealed that Durant said (h/t ESPN.com): "I love the system. I love how you guys play. I see how hard you guys play ... you were never out of games. We could never take you guys lightly."

The Nets' style of play wasn't that far off from the Golden State Warriors squad that featured Durant last season.

According to NBA.com, Brooklyn was 11th in the league in pace and just one spot behind Golden State. The Nets also attempted the fifth-most three-pointers in the league, three places ahead of a Warriors team with Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Brooklyn, with a young and talented core, used that style of play to go from 28-54 to one that surprised with a 42-40 record and reached last season's Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 6 seed. The additions of Durant and Kyrie Irving to a group that includes Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen means the Nets figure to be a threat in the East for years to come, although Durant's status for 2019-20 is unknown after he ruptured his Achilles in the NBA Finals.

Marks said he has "no idea" whether Durant will return this season, although he stressed that "we're certainly not going to rush him back. There's going to be absolutely none of that. We have far too much invested in him, and we owe it to Kevin to get him back to 100 percent."

Durant at 100 percent playing alongside Irving will be a problem for the rest of the East, even if it doesn't come until 2020-21.

The 10-time All-Star is one of the best players in league history as a two-time NBA Finals MVP, league MVP and nine-time All-NBA selection. Brooklyn's style is apparently well suited to his talents, which is welcome news for a team looking to win a playoff series for just the second time since the 2006-07 season.