Relatively quiet since he signed his four-year deal with the Nets in July and rehabs from an Achilles injury, Kevin Durant broke his silence Friday when he went on Chris Henderson's YouTube for a live interview.
In the 45-minute discussion with the self-proclaimed sneakerhead and game, who interviews athletes and celebrities about sneakers and videogames, Durant shed light on what he thinks of the Nets as his next chapter approaches.
Asked about Brooklyn, which will have to begin the 2019-20 season without the 10-time All-Star and four-time scoring champ, Durant was optimistic when he spoke of his new supporting cast.
"I'm excited about this group," Durant said. "Obviously with me not starting off the season and obviously being injured, you're going to see a lot of guys step up and do some things and go to another level as a player."
Durant ruptured his right Achilles in June's NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors, but general manager Sean Marks made a point during July's NBA Summer League to not rule out the 6-foot-9 small forward's late-season return.
The latest on Durant's recovery came Friday when he posted two photos to his Instagram of him balancing. Durant is now 12 weeks -- roughly three months -- into the rehabilitation process.
In the meantime, Caris Levert and Joe Harris headline the key Nets returners. Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, meanwhile, united with Durant in Brooklyn as free agents.
"Caris, Joe Harris, Taurean Prince -- even the older guys like Garrett Temple, Kyrie, DeAndre," Durant said, "I feel like everybody in this environment in going to step up, especially due to circumstances with me not being available. I think everybody's going to step up and take it to the next level. We've got great coaching, great front office, great fanbase that's excited for something new. This is a fresh start for everybody, I feel."
"He'll make you feel a certain way when you watch him," Durant said of Irving. "His movements, his mentality out there, his smarts for the game, his efficiency -- he's an all-around player."