Everyone is aware that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are in charge of the Brooklyn Nets. After so much turbulence over the past few years, Kevin and Kyrie are finally guiding the Nets to a decent season as the team’s finest players and leaders.

This season, despite Durant’s latest injury, the Nets have managed to stay alive thanks to the heroics of Irving and defensive star Nic Claxton, who has emerged as the team’s third-best player.

With averages of 13.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game on 74% shooting, Nic is currently having a breakout season for Brooklyn.

And while some have taken notice, others haven’t yet caught on. During a recent conversation with the media, NBA big man Montrezl Harrell told Kristian Winfield of New York Daily News that he doesn’t respect Claxton’s game as much as you might think.

“I don’t know nothing about that, brother. You’re talking about a guy who steps up, but at the same time, Kyrie is the head of that snake,” Harrell said in response to a question about Claxton. “If Kevin Durant was there, it would be those two. It’s good that he’s playing well and stuff like that — cool — but he’s not the focal point of our defense. … We know the head of that engine is through Kyrie.”

Obviously, Clax is not on the level of Kyrie Irving, but he’s having a season that deserves to be respected and recognized for what it is. Fortunately, Kevin Durant feels the same way and recently came to his teammate’s defense.

Kevin Durant Defends His Teammate

It’s been a few days since the whole thing happened, but Durant made a statement about Harrell’s quote on his podcast this week. Unsurprisingly, he took the side of his Nets teammate.

“Come on, Montrezl, you was talking crazy,” Durant said on The ETCs Podcast, per ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater. “You not like that. You’re an enforcer as a basketball player, but you’re not that guy. Clax is having a good year. Come on.”

Kevin Durant called out Montrezl Harrell for his quote on Nic Claxton:

“Come on Montrezl, you was talking crazy… You not like that. You’re an enforcer as a basketball player, but you’re not that guy. Clax is having a good year, come on.”

(Via The ETCs podcast)

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 30, 2023

Durant has always been a supportive teammate, and it’s good to know that hasn’t changed with the Nets. Despite their flaws and early-season struggles, Durant believes in his group and isn’t going to let anyone talk trash about his teammate without something to say about it.

Let’s hope he’s able to return to action soon so he can help Claxton, Irving, and the Nets win more games and re-take their position at the top of the East standings.

Source: yardbarker.com