Kevin Durant Had Sean Marks, Steve Nash Message on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Brooklyn Nets entered the 2025 NBA Draft in full rebuild mode, aiming to reshape their roster after finishing the 2024-25 season ended with a 26-56 record. With a playoff drought that now spans two seasons and a longterm plan clearly in motion, the franchise leaned into its asset-rich draft position to chart a new course forward.
It has been just a few years since Brooklyn boasted one of the most talented trios of all-time in Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Led by head coach Steve Nash, that group underperformed due to injuries and other complicated matters.
General manager Sean Marks, who has been taking some heat for what many analysts deemed a poor first round draft, also took a lot of criticism during the Durant era.
As he often does, Durant engaged in a back-and-forth social media exchange on Thursday. One of the topics was his perceived involvement in Brooklyn hiring Steve Nash, a move many feel was not the right one for that veteran group.
Making things clear, Durant cited the prior relationship Marks and Nash had, saying he supported the move but did not orchestrate it.
“Didnt marks and steve Nash play together in 2007? They had a relationship, I supported the hire because steve is a brilliant basketball mind,” he said.
Didnt marks and steve Nash play together in 2007? They had a relationship, I supported the hire because steve is a brilliant basketball mind
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 26, 2025
Durant spent four years in Brooklyn, appearing in 129 games. His deepest playoff run came in 2021 when the Nets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
On Thursday, Brooklyn continued its post-Durant rebuild effort by making all five of its first-round selections. While other teams explored consolidating picks or trading up, the Nets are focused on building depth and future flexibility across the board.
Sean Marks described the group as a collection of smart, pass-first players who “move the ball the right way” (h/t Lucas Kaplan of Nets Daily). Brooklyn’s decision to use all five picks signals a long-term rebuild powered by youth—and one that could define the next era of Nets basketball.
Related: Calls Mount for Sean Marks’ Firing After Egor Demin Move
Related: Kevin Durant Issues Strong Response to Warriors, Steve Kerr Report
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.