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  • you obviously working relationship with Kevin Durant over at the Brooklyn Nets.

  • And when you look at what they're trying to do in Brooklyn, what do you make of where they're at right now?

  • With James Harden as well as Kyrie and Kevin, I would deem it the East Coast Big Three.

  • Um, I'm really happy with where they're at.

  • I think you saw the other day like this is gonna be a constant process.

  • And even while it's a process, it doesn't mean that they can't win at the highest level.

  • Miami's first year would be considered a process, but they lost in the finals.

  • Um, so I think that you're gonna see bumps along the way.

  • But it's less about the three of them and more about the fact that, like in order to get three players of that caliber, your roster gets in.

  • Then when your roster gets thin, players step up in the roles they're not used to, and players have to learn how to play with players of their caliber.

  • And, you know, and you see Kevin, James and Chi will figure it out when you're at that level in that level of I Q.

  • basketball.

  • I mean, Kyrie is more than happy and you saw it to get right off the ball and let James have the rock and and Chi still find ample shots.

  • Katie still finds ample shots, and they're just getting better.

  • Like, you know, Katie definitely doesn't think he's all the way back, which is frightening.

  • Speaking of action, people be surprised that he is back and playing at the level that he's playing.

  • That despite an injury that most people thought he wouldn't be able to be.

  • Kevin Durant coming back on that injury?

  • Um, well, first of all, I think in J you know this, like within our circle, there was a unanimous thought like, All right, so it's a year and you'll be back in a year and you'll be Katie.

  • It was never even a thought.

  • The reality is what the reality is.

  • I think we all thought his game, and everyone said that his game wasn't predicated on, like if he was to lose, whatever a quarter inch of a step right.

  • The difference between Katie and most of the world is that never could compromise hard work.

  • And you know that and I saw in Kevin's eyes the day he had the injury.

  • He was the calmest person in the room, and that same kind of mentality he took throughout the whole thing stay.

  • He has an insane ability to put blinders on and stay in the moment.

  • Stay in the drill.

  • You know, like when a normal person has an injury and they go to rehab and the doctor says, Look, after the session when you go home, won't you do like 12 more of those leg lifts?

  • And you're like, All right, I'm not doing them shit.

  • I'm never doing that.

  • Que de listens toe every single thing, the doctor tells him.

  • He pushes himself when he's by himself.

  • He's stretching muscles.

  • That, he read, could help the the rehab process.

  • So you know, I'm not surprised and his I Q.

  • For the game is off the charts.

  • Is there any way that with the direction the Knicks air going in and I know it's slightly better, But you know what I mean?

  • The way the Knicks were going, the way the Nets could be going any chance in hell, the Nets could ever be bigger than the Knicks.

  • Well, so in the moment.

  • I'm dying to hear how you answer this one.

  • Rich.

  • Yeah, because, well, this is an easy one in the moment, obviously, right?

  • Like if the Mets or the Jets get Thio Championship Game of the Finals like they're gonna take the coverage in New York for that moment, they're not the better and bigger team that's so ingrained in the culture in New York over such a long period of time.

  • There's not much you can do about that.

  • But the one thing about New York similar to L.

  • A is like there's not a ceiling.

  • There's not a limit to the amount of fans.

  • So I think the Nets are going to be a global phenomenon over the next few years.

  • A bit the way the Warriors were the heat, etcetera.

  • And I think that they're gonna be a major major force in New York from a brand perspective and just taking the attention of the city in the long term.

  • So I think the Nets will be New York's team, not us, the Knicks.

  • But Brooklyn will carve out their own lane, and I think that's the thing about the MBA is this is a booming entertainment business.

  • And like from a fan perspective, they don't see it that way.

  • But the reality is is like the Nets have their own aesthetic, their own arena.

  • They have an owner that's been insanely successful, and they're now building a foundation which started with, like, playing hard and playing together.

  • Now they've attracted three of the biggest players in the world.

  • And that doesn't just go away like the stigma around the heat.

  • Even though they've been successful post LeBron like, you know, LeBron Riley.

  • They put that thing on forever.

  • So that's what I think is gonna happen with the Nets.

  • And you just have to big brands in New York.

  • Richard here?

  • Yeah, I'm here.

  • Just wanna let you know the Clippers will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever be relevant in Los Angeles.

  • Just saying, But no relevant ever, ever, ever gonna be the Lakers.

  • But they're not relevant.

  • No, no, I'm just being relevant.

  • No, no, no, no, no.

  • Yo, I will bet you on that key because when you get owner with that money and that charisma and you have a city of Los Angeles, if you win, this is room for two, bro.

  • It's not gonna be the Lakers.

  • Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content subscribed to ESPN plus right now.

you obviously working relationship with Kevin Durant over at the Brooklyn Nets.

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