Which core of guys (prime versions) not named Kyrie or Harden would’ve benefitted KD more?
Posted: Tue Jul 5, 2022 12:08 am
The Brooklyn Nets Big 3 was composed of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. They almost beat the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 with Durant’s help, but in the end it wasn’t enough as Giannis and the Bucks went on to eventually win the NBA Championship. With that being said, if the other guys on the Nets were as good as they used to be, then maybe things would’ve clicked for KD and the Nets. And now it looks like KD and Kyrie want out of Brooklyn, and so here are the three sets of core players (in their primes).
2019-20 core (outside of KD and Irving):
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie / Tyler Johnson
SG: Garrett Temple / Caris LeVert / Iman Shumpert / Jamal Crawford
SF: Joe Harris
PF: Taurean Prince / Wilson Chandler / Michael Beasley
C: Jarrett Allen / DeAndre Jordan / Nicolas Claxton
2020-21 core (outside of KD, Irving and Harden):
PG: Tyler Johnson
SG: Landry Shamet / Spencer Dinwiddie
SF: Joe Harris / Bruce Brown / Iman Shumpert
PF: Jeff Green / Andre Roberson
C: DeAndre Jordan / Blake Griffin / LaMarcus Aldridge / Nicolas Claxton
2021-22 core (outside of KD, Irving and Harden):
PG: Ben Simmons / Goran Dragic / Patty Mills
SG: Seth Curry / Langston Galloway
SF: Joe Harris / Bruce Brown
PF: Blake Griffin / Paul Millsap / James Johnson
C: Andre Drummond / LaMarcus Aldridge / Nicolas Claxton
Which group of these core players in their primes would’ve helped give Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden a better chance at winning at least an NBA Championship ring or two for Brooklyn?
2019-20 core (outside of KD and Irving):
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie / Tyler Johnson
SG: Garrett Temple / Caris LeVert / Iman Shumpert / Jamal Crawford
SF: Joe Harris
PF: Taurean Prince / Wilson Chandler / Michael Beasley
C: Jarrett Allen / DeAndre Jordan / Nicolas Claxton
2020-21 core (outside of KD, Irving and Harden):
PG: Tyler Johnson
SG: Landry Shamet / Spencer Dinwiddie
SF: Joe Harris / Bruce Brown / Iman Shumpert
PF: Jeff Green / Andre Roberson
C: DeAndre Jordan / Blake Griffin / LaMarcus Aldridge / Nicolas Claxton
2021-22 core (outside of KD, Irving and Harden):
PG: Ben Simmons / Goran Dragic / Patty Mills
SG: Seth Curry / Langston Galloway
SF: Joe Harris / Bruce Brown
PF: Blake Griffin / Paul Millsap / James Johnson
C: Andre Drummond / LaMarcus Aldridge / Nicolas Claxton
Which group of these core players in their primes would’ve helped give Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden a better chance at winning at least an NBA Championship ring or two for Brooklyn?