Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson Set for Reunion in Phoenix
The highly anticipated reunion between the Brooklyn Nets and their former superstar Kevin Durant is set to take place in Phoenix. This will also mark the return of ex-Suns Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to their former NBA home. The trade that sent Durant to the Suns last season had a significant impact on both franchises and shifted the balance of power in the NBA.
A Return to Phoenix
For Bridges and Johnson, this game holds special significance as they return to the city where they started their NBA careers. Both players expressed their excitement about the reunion and the opportunity to play in front of the fans who supported them throughout their time in Phoenix.
Johnson shared his appreciation for the city and the fans, saying, “It’s appreciation you gain for a city and for the fans when you play there for a while. And as crazy as it is, you don’t know. That last game I played there, I didn’t know it’d be my last game in a Suns uniform. So it’ll be fun. It’ll be fun to have.”
Bridges echoed Johnson’s sentiments, expressing his excitement about seeing old friends and fans. He emphasized that their main focus is to go out there and get a win.
A Game-Changing Trade
The trade that brought Durant to the Suns was a seismic deal that reshaped the futures of both teams. Durant’s arrival in Phoenix came after he grew tired of the inconsistency and upheaval in Brooklyn. He believed that the Nets lacked the necessary continuity and identity to win a championship.
Durant explained, “And when you want to win a championship, you’ve got to build an identity from Day 1, and it was just a lot of circumstances that were out of the players’ control that got in the way of us building our continuity.”
Despite the challenges, Durant acknowledged that he and his teammates learned valuable lessons from their time in Brooklyn. He emphasized the importance of working with people, dealing with injuries and lineup changes, and maintaining leadership throughout adversity.
Fond Memories in Phoenix
For Bridges and Johnson, their time in Phoenix was filled with memorable moments. One of the highlights was their trip to the 2021 Finals, where they experienced the support of the passionate Phoenix fans.
Johnson recalled, “I’m going to say those Finals games that we won there. It was a pretty good feeling. The crowd was just going crazy that whole entire playoff run because the fans were just allowed back in the building. They were very ruckus.”
As the Nets face off against the Suns in Phoenix, all eyes will be on Durant, Bridges, and Johnson. This reunion serves as a reminder of the impact that trades can have on players and franchises, and it will undoubtedly be an emotional and exciting matchup for everyone involved.
