Nets' Kevin Durant Expects to Be Used at Multiple Positions Entering Preseason

Kevin Durant is ready to play a number of different roles for the Brooklyn Nets this season under new head coach Steve Nash.

"I think coach is going to use me in a variety of ways, especially as a small-ball 5 and 4 sometimes," he said Wednesday, per ESPN's Malika Andrews. "And bringing the ball up, too, so I've just got to be ready for anything."

Durant added that the Nets' approach will be more geared toward positionless basketball.

While playing Durant at center may not be ideal in certain matchups—they'll probably avoid having him bang on the block with physical centers like Joel Embiid in Philadelphia—it's a role that the superstar should be able to handle. 

In his three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Durant averaged 1.5 blocks per game, making major strides as a rim protector. It's likely not a role that the Nets will have to rely on heavily, given the presence of centers Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan, but Durant's versatility gives them options. 

This team is loaded. While it's fair to question whether Durant might need time to round back into superstar form after a ruptured Achilles cost him all of last season, the 32-year-old will lead a supporting cast that includes Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, Landry Shamet, Allen and Jordan, among others. 

If that group comes together quickly under Nash—another question mark, considering the former NBA star has never coached at this level—a championship in the 2020-21 season is a strong possibility. At the least, the Nets have the pieces in place to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.

"We've got champions on this team," Durant said. "We've got guys who have been in playoff runs, been in Game 7s, so it's always important to have that much experience and knowledge within the group. We'll see where we go from here."

Brooklyn has its first of two preseason games Sunday. It opens the regular season Dec. 22 against the Warriors at Barclays Center.