Basketball

Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant picks LA Clippers to beat Bucks in NBA Finals

With one of the most open NBA postseasons in years, there’s no clear title most loved at the present time, yet the LA Clippers got one major endorsement: Kevin Durant.

“If I had to choose — and I hate doing that s— because you never know what could happen, you seen that with us last year — but if I had to choose, I’ll go with Clippers and Bucks for the championship,” Durant said on the “Play For Keeps” podcast. “And I’ll go with the Clippers.”

Entering the Orlando restart, the Clippers are in the upper level of top choices, directly close by the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. ESPN’s BPI Playoff chances give the Clippers a 10% opportunity to win the title, behind the Bucks (49.7%) and Lakers (18.7%). Durant says he sees the Toronto Raptors playing the Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals, and the Lakers and Clippers coordinating up in the West.

“They’re just so deep,” Durant said of the Clippers. “They haven’t had their whole team together at once for a long period of time yet, and that talent is just undeniable. When you have [Paul George] and Kawhi [Leonard] at the wings, that’s what you need to win is wings. You got those two at the wings, arguably top three, top four at the wing position on one team.”

Durant has been out since tearing his Achilles in the 2019 Finals however says he intends to be all set for the 2020-21 season. While his Brooklyn Nets are in the bubble and in great situation to make the playoffs in the East, next season will at long last observe the Durant pair with Kyrie Irving.

“I was at a level where I was focused in on every possession, so I want to get back to that point,” Durant said of his comeback.

Durant additionally talked about the polarizing Irving, defending the fluctuating point guard for being transparent.

“What does misunderstood mean?” Durant said. “I think the truth sometimes can hurt a lot of people. When you tell the raw truth, especially in this society, it’s frowned upon. And Kyrie just tells it like it is. There’s no sugarcoating.”