The faces of the franchise have changed. Naturally, the focus follows them.
Once Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan decided to make Brooklyn home, the oft-ignored Nets became one of the league’s most intriguing teams, positioned to contend for their first NBA title, upon Durant’s return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
But even if the former MVP returns at full strength, the Nets need much more.
“We need our young guys to step up,” coach Kenny Atkinson recently said. “We talk about Kevin and Kyrie a lot, but who is gonna make that jump?”
The top candidate is obvious.