Kevin Durant: Players react to shocking NBA trade request drama

New York, New York - Two-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, causing the basketball world to go into a frenzy overnight and players to take to social media to react to his shocking news.

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets made a trade request on Thursday, sending the NBA world into a frenzy overnight.
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets made a trade request on Thursday, sending the NBA world into a frenzy overnight.  © AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Hours before the new NBA league year officially begins, one of the biggest names in the sport has made himself available via a trade request.

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets requested franchise owner Joe Tsai allow him to be traded on Thursday, despite his signing a four-year, $198-million max extension in August.

Durant's request came just hours before the start of the free agency and three days after teammate Kyrie Irving opted in to his player option for the 2022-23 season.

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Last season, the 12-time All-Star averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game while playing in 55 games – his most since the 2018-19 season – in route to earning All-NBA Second Team honors.

News following Durant's trade request put the NBA on alert, with many of the league's players taking to social media to react to his overwhelming news.

Players tweet in on Durant drama

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets drives towards the basket against the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference.
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets drives towards the basket against the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference.  © MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Fellow players were quick to react to the news on social media.

As Portland's Josh Hart put it, "I love how we always got something going on in the league."

With the amount of news and drama that erupts from the NBA, one might think the league is a scripted sports day-time drama series.

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While some players like Kyle Kuzma had similar tweets to that of Hart, other players sent out possible hints for trade suggestions.

Portland Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic resurfaced a photoshopped image of Durant in a Blazers jersey alongside Damian Lillard, which Nurkic initially shared on Saturday.

Also joining in on the photoshop fun was Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Banchero shared a doctored image of himself with Durant in a Magic jersey on his Instagram Stories.

The Durant drama just made all things NBA far more intriguing. Now every team in the league will likely try to pivot and make a deal for one of the sport's best athletes.

Cover photo: Collage: AL BELLO / MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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