Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are undoubtedly close but the former claims that their friendship never played a key role in bringing both together in Brooklyn. And while most would say otherwise, the two-time NBA champion further added that playing together was something both did not plan.

Apparently, Durant was trying to downplay that belief that he an Irving planned to team up with the Brooklyn Nets, something that was in NBA rumors last season. In an exclusive interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, he singled out how friendships in the league have grown and that there was no harm in speculating of two guys eventually teaming up.

"People see friendship as the way guys are teaming up. There's nothing wrong with people speculating. That's just what it is, but we're just good friends no matter what. We didn't have to play together. It wasn't necessary. But, we were friends before anything, and we just happened to want to hoop together. But it wasn't a thing we planned. It just came together," said Durant in that interview.

He singled out the bond between LeBron James and now-retired NBA star Dwyane Wade as an example. Both teamed up with the Miami Heat back in 2010 and then again with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. Together with another buddy in Chris Bosh, it was with the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014 that reaped dividends. Miami won the NBA title in 2012 and 2013. Could this be the same scenario in Brooklyn?

Irving savored NBA gold back in 2016 while Durant bagged his in 2017 and 2018. With the Nets, both are trying to add to their trophy case although that may not happen immediately. The 30-year-old Durant is in the recovery stages of his injury and could very well make his Nets debut no early than the 2020-21 NBA season. That said, Irving will have to try and carry the load for now alongside DeAndre Jordan, another fresh recruit for Brooklyn.

As mentioned in a previous post, there is a (slim) possibility that Durant could make it towards the end of the 2019-20 NBA season. He was spotted over in Los Angeles without crutches and seemed to be recovering well from a torn Achilles injury. But even if he does suit up for some reason, he may not immediately impact the Nets. And that may perhaps be the last thing Brooklyn would want to do, rushing KD back into action.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving (L) and USA's guard Kevin Durant look on from the substitutes' bench during a Men's round Group A basketball match between China and USA at the Carioca Arena 1 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 6, 2016. ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images
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