The Brooklyn Nets came within an inch of Kevin Durant's sneaker to taking out the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs last season and they enter the 2021-22 season as the title favourites.
Injuries to James Harden and Kyrie Irving derailed their title chances last season, but according to 'The Beard' next season is going to be a different story.
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During his '3 The Harden Way Foundation' charity softball event in Houston, Harden was asked what fans could expect from the Nets, telling KPRC 2 Houston's Ari Alexander, "Healthy James Harden. Scary, scary hours."
Talked to James Harden today and asked him what #Nets fans can look forward to:
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) August 29, 2021
“Healthy James Harden…it’s scary, SCARY HOURS” pic.twitter.com/FOSlnJzVEp
Harden was an instant hit in Brooklyn after being traded by the Houston Rockets, averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 assists, and 8.5 rebounds points per game during the regular season, however, due to neck and hamstring injuries he was limited to just 36 appearances in a Nets uniform.
His hamstring injury carried over to the playoffs, exiting Game 1 of their series against the Bucks within the opening minute. He missed the next three games and was hobbled in Game 5, with Kyrie Irving suffering an ankle injury in Game 5, forcing him out of the remainder of the series.
While Kevin Durant pushed the Nets to seven games, before falling to the Bucks, seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo and co. lift the Larry O'Brien trophy, will no doubt have given the Nets a glimpse of what could have been.
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With a healthy trio of Harden, Irving, and Durant alongside Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Joe Harris, Bruce Brown and free-agent signing Patty Mills, the Nets have every reason to feel confident that next season could be their year.
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