Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant Michael Laughlin-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant played unlikely recruiting role for one New York team

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated 2/1/23

Kevin Durant has officially gone from the recruited to the recruiter.

The Brooklyn Nets forward Durant revealed this week on Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast that he recently contacted ex-WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, a free agent, to try to convince her to come to the New York Liberty. Durant, noting that “I never do this,” said that he told Stewart, “Yo, it would be an incredible dynasty in New York City if you came here.”

"I hit Stewie the other day, and I never do this, and was like, 'Yo, it would be an incredible dynasty in New York City if you came here.'"

– Kevin Durant on Breanna Stewart joining the NY Liberty

pic.twitter.com/BL1uLht5PE

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) January 31, 2023

Durant’s recruiting pitch must have worked. Stewart announced on Wednesday that she had indeed decided to sign with the Liberty.

pic.twitter.com/6Sg28YnCPz

— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) February 1, 2023

That led to a funny victory lap from Durant on Twitter.

“Aye, don’t call my phone lookin for tickets this summer, they gone,” he wrote. “Let’s get it @nyliberty.”

Aye, don’t call my phone lookin for tickets this summer, they gone. Let’s get it @nyliberty https://t.co/dPx7emIeMP

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 1, 2023

Stewart, a former No. 1 overall pick and two-time WNBA champion, is one of the brightest stars in the league. Playing last season for the Seattle Storm, she led the WNBA in scoring and also made the All-Defensive First Team. Stewart is now set to join a Liberty team that, with three other All-Stars in Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Betnijah Laney already in town, will likely challenge the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces for the WNBA title.

Additionally, the Liberty share an arena (Barclays Center) with the Nets, so Durant and Stewart will be seeing plenty of each other from here. This is not the first time that Durant has gotten involved in WNBA matters either.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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