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Amid Kevin Durant Trade Rumors, Damian Lillard Issued a Cryptic Message Questioning Loyalties

Published 11/18/2022, 5:45 AM EST

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via Reuters

The Brooklyn Nets are amidst a historic meltdown. Three years since bringing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on board, the Nets have only won a single playoff series two seasons ago. Moreover, the team has been mired in controversy from all directions recently. One of them was at the height of the off-season drama when Durant shocked the NBA world after requesting a trade.

Despite having four years left on his newly signed contract, the 2x NBA champion Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. The news left millions of fans in utter disbelief, following which a social media storm ensued, that contained an intense backlash against Durant. The ‘Slim Reaper’ witnessed a similar pushback after signing with the Golden State Warriors in 2016. However, Durant’s attempt to leave yet another team high-and-dry failed, leaving him seemingly stuck with the Nets for the foreseeable future.

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Damian Lillard took a cryptic shot at Kevin Durant and his loyalty

Despite having such star power, the Nets have undoubtedly massively underperformed in the Durant-Irving saga, leaving them frustrated to the nth degree. However, the irony is Durant himself made his frustrations with the team evident after requesting a trade in the off-season. KD became a victim of fans vehemently berating and questioning his loyalty. However, Durant did not only receive criticism from fans. A fellow All-Star might have taken a shot at him in a cryptic message.

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Following the social media storm that ensued after Durant’s request, Damian Lillard took to Instagram to remind Durant about ‘loyalty.’ The lifelong Portland Trail Blazers star posted a video of the famous comedian Steve Harvey talking about loyalty. In the clip, Harvey said, “loyalty has an expiration date.” It is unclear whether Lillard was taking a shot at Durant. However, the post’s timing undoubtedly led to rampant speculation of a possible ‘beef’ between the two stars.

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Following the failed attempt to get out of Brooklyn, Durant started the season with the team. However, they struggled to win games. The Brooklyn Nets are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference table with a 7-9 record so far.

Watch this Story – Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard headline the USA Tokyo Olympics men’s basketball roster  

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Notably, Lillard is arguably having an MVP-caliber season in Portland. With the top seed in the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers are well-positioned for a deep playoff run.

What did you make of Damian Lillard’s post back in July 2022? Do you think it was a dig at Kevin Durant? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

K Shrijith

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K Shrijith is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing his BBA degree, Shrijith has a keen interest in the world of finance. In fact, he has past experience in equity research and writing research reports on the subject of finance.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani