How the Nets went from a super-team destined to win a championship to the NBA's biggest circus

Scott DavisNov 3, 2022, 18:41 IST

Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving haven't clicked yet.Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The Nets built a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden that looked poised to dominate the NBA.
Less than two years later, they've fallen apart amid injuries, trade requests, vaccine skepticism, and more.

It's been a bumpy road for the Brooklyn Nets.

Just two years ago, the Nets looked like a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. They had just traded for James Harden, adding him to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to build the NBA's most formidable offensive trio.

However, since then, their championship chase has gone off course, as they've dealt with injuries, trade demands, vaccine skepticism, off-court distractions, firings, and more.

On Tuesday, they fanned the flames, parting ways with head coach Steve Nash and subsequently targeting Ime Udoka, who was suspended for a year by the Celtics for a reported inappropriate relationship with a female staffer. All of this occurred as the team was handling the fallout of Irving's sharing a film with anti-Semitic tropes and refusing to apologize for it.

Though the Nets' championship hopes remain alive, they'll have to clean up what has become the NBA's biggest mess.

Here's a timeline of how it's happened.

July 2019: The Nets were the biggest winners of NBA free agency, signing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant into cap space.

Mary Altaffer/AP Images

September 2020: The Nets hire Steve Nash, a first-time head coach. Nash had worked closely with Durant as a consultant with the Warriors.

Kathy Willens/AP Images

January 2021: The Nets pull off a blockbuster trade for James Harden to form the NBA's newest and flashiest super-team.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Images

May 2021: After trading for Harden, the Nets go 41-18 to finish the 2020-21 regular season, posting the league's best offense during that stretch. They beat the Boston Celtics in five games in the first round of the playoffs to set up a second-round matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Adam Hunger/AP Images

May 2021: After trading for Harden, the Nets go 41-18 to finish the 2020-21 regular season, posting the league's best offense during that stretch. They beat the Boston Celtics in five games in the first round of the playoffs to set up a second-round matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

June 5, 2021: James Harden leaves Game 1 against the Bucks after tweaking his hamstring. He went on to miss Games 2, 3, and 4.

Frank Franklin II/AP Images

June 13, 2021: Kyrie Irving sprains his ankle in Game 4 against the Bucks, which Milwaukee won, evening the series at 2-2.

Morry Gash/AP Images

June 19, 2021: Without Irving and with Harden hobbled, the Nets lose to the Bucks in Game 7. Kevin Durant's foot was famously an inch too long, as a game-winning three-point attempt in regulation was actually a two-pointer that forced overtime.

David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

June 19, 2021: Without Irving and with Harden hobbled, the Nets lose to the Bucks in Game 7. Kevin Durant's foot was famously an inch too long, as a game-winning three-point attempt in regulation was actually a two-pointer that forced overtime.

September 27, 2021: Kyrie Irving misses Nets Media Day because he hasn't received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Mary Altaffer/AP

October 12, 2021: The Nets won't allow Irving to play or practice until he gets vaccinated.

Kyrie Irving's decision to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in the Nets' season.Eric Gay/AP Images

December 17, 2021: The Nets allow Kyrie Irving to return as a part-time player and play in away games.

Kyrie Irving has missed more than half of the Nets games over the last three seasons.Seth Wenig/AP Images

January 15, 2022: Kevin Durant sprains his MCL. The Nets went 2-10 over their next 12 games, all without Durant.

Noah K. Murray/AP Images

Amid the losing streak, Harden became noticeably disengaged on the court.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Images

February 10, 2022: The Nets trade James Harden to the 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and two first-round draft picks.

James Harden and Kyrie Irving.Matt York/AP Images

March 2022: Simmons, while ramping up for his Nets debut, reportedly suffered a setback on his back injury, delaying his return to the court.

Matt Slocum/AP Images

April 24, 2022: Ben Simmons is ruled out of Game 4 of the playoffs with another setback.

John Minchillo/AP Images

Also on April 24, 2022: The Nets are swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Celtics.

John Minchillo/AP Images

June 20, 2022: Kyrie Irving and the Nets hit an "impasse" over his contract.

Kyrie Irving during the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics.Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

June 30: Kevin Durant requests a trade from the Nets.

Kevin Durant.John Minchillo/AP Images

August 8: Kevin Durant tells the Nets to trade him or fire Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks.

John Minchillo/AP Images

August 23: After months of trade rumors and speculation, the Nets and Durant agreed to stay together.

Kevin Durant will be the star of the NBA play-in tournament this year.Adam Hunger/AP Images

September 15: Kyrie Irving shares a video on Instagram of Alex Jones talking about secret societies that would unleash a plague.

October 29: Kyrie Irving shares a link to a movie filled with anti-Semitic tropes, "Hebrews to Negroes," on his Twitter and Instagram.

Jessie Alcheh/AP Images

November 1: Amid a 2-6 start, the Nets and Nash agreed to part ways.

Elsa/Getty Images

November 1: Within an hour of Nash's departure, ESPN and The Athletic both report that Ime Udoka is expected to become the Nets next head coach.

Ime Udoka.Charles Krupa/AP Images

November 1: At the same press conference, Marks also said the Nets were giving Irving time to cool down before addressing reporters again. Marks said they didn't want to create a "fuss."

Jessie Alcheh/AP Images

November 1: At the same press conference, Marks also said the Nets were giving Irving time to cool down before addressing reporters again. Marks said they didn't want to create a "fuss."

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How the Nets went from a super-team destined to win a championship to the NBA's biggest circus

July 2019: The Nets were the biggest winners of NBA free agency, signing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant into cap space.

September 2020: The Nets hire Steve Nash, a first-time head coach. Nash had worked closely with Durant as a consultant with the Warriors.

January 2021: The Nets pull off a blockbuster trade for James Harden to form the NBA's newest and flashiest super-team.

May 2021: After trading for Harden, the Nets go 41-18 to finish the 2020-21 regular season, posting the league's best offense during that stretch. They beat the Boston Celtics in five games in the first round of the playoffs to set up a second-round matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

June 5, 2021: James Harden leaves Game 1 against the Bucks after tweaking his hamstring. He went on to miss Games 2, 3, and 4.

June 13, 2021: Kyrie Irving sprains his ankle in Game 4 against the Bucks, which Milwaukee won, evening the series at 2-2.

June 19, 2021: Without Irving and with Harden hobbled, the Nets lose to the Bucks in Game 7. Kevin Durant's foot was famously an inch too long, as a game-winning three-point attempt in regulation was actually a two-pointer that forced overtime.

September 27, 2021: Kyrie Irving misses Nets Media Day because he hasn't received a COVID-19 vaccine.

October 12, 2021: The Nets won't allow Irving to play or practice until he gets vaccinated.

December 17, 2021: The Nets allow Kyrie Irving to return as a part-time player and play in away games.

January 15, 2022: Kevin Durant sprains his MCL. The Nets went 2-10 over their next 12 games, all without Durant.

Amid the losing streak, Harden became noticeably disengaged on the court.

February 10, 2022: The Nets trade James Harden to the 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and two first-round draft picks.

March 2022: Simmons, while ramping up for his Nets debut, reportedly suffered a setback on his back injury, delaying his return to the court.

April 24, 2022: Ben Simmons is ruled out of Game 4 of the playoffs with another setback.

Also on April 24, 2022: The Nets are swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Celtics.

June 20, 2022: Kyrie Irving and the Nets hit an "impasse" over his contract.

June 30: Kevin Durant requests a trade from the Nets.

August 8: Kevin Durant tells the Nets to trade him or fire Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks.

August 23: After months of trade rumors and speculation, the Nets and Durant agreed to stay together.

September 15: Kyrie Irving shares a video on Instagram of Alex Jones talking about secret societies that would unleash a plague.

October 29: Kyrie Irving shares a link to a movie filled with anti-Semitic tropes, "Hebrews to Negroes," on his Twitter and Instagram.

November 1: Amid a 2-6 start, the Nets and Nash agreed to part ways.

November 1: Within an hour of Nash's departure, ESPN and The Athletic both report that Ime Udoka is expected to become the Nets next head coach.

November 1: At the same press conference, Marks also said the Nets were giving Irving time to cool down before addressing reporters again. Marks said they didn't want to create a "fuss."