Kevin Durant says the Nets don't measure up

Kevin Durant insists he's not unhappy with the Brooklyn Nets. He's just realistic.

After the Nets gave up 153 points to the Sacramento Kings, Durant told Chris Hayes that he wanted to show how a great player can "maximize" a bad situation in the NBA. 

"I’m really having a good time," Durant insisted. "I wish y'all could hear me talk during the game. If I got mic’d up more, people would stop asking me if I'm happy or not."

At the same time, KD thinks people need to have realistic expectations for this edition of the Nets. 

"Look at our starting lineup. Edmond Sumner, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, [Nic] Claxton and me. It’s not disrespect, but what are you expecting from that group?" Durant asked. “You expect us to win because I’m out there."

Although those starters might have indeed found that comment disrespectful, Durant isn't really wrong. Sumner and Harris are coming off of brutal leg injuries, and O'Neale is a career 6.3 points per game scorer. When you consider the long absence of Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons' ineffectiveness, the Nets' record of 6-9 seems appropriate.

Still, Durant says that he's enjoying being the sole focus of the opposing defense every night. 

"I'm learning the game more and seeing all types of crazy defenses every night. I never know how a team is going to guard me. This is all helping me mentally as a player to see things a little slower, playing a little slower," KD said. "Individually, I’m like, 'All right, I have to dodge five defenders,' but it's fun going through that s--t because it's only making me better as a basketball player."

Durant doesn't seem as though he'll revisit his trade demand from the summer, even though he listed it as part of his various NBA milestones. 

"I’ve experienced it all," Durant told Haynes. "Championships, Rookie of the Year, All-Stars, free agency, requesting a trade, All-Star MVPs, Olympics. I did everything in this league."

Why did he request a trade the first time? Durant explained that he felt the team wasn't preparing well or practicing enough under Steve Nash. He believes the team is playing hard under new coach Jacque Vaughn, but KD's main impetus for the trade demand sounds a lot like how things are going right now for Brooklyn.

"When we’re all playing like s--t, you know the one person they’re going to look at," Durant said. "That’s why I requested a trade."

No one is looking at Durant yet, but if the Nets have more disasters like the Kings game, the media — and other NBA GMs — will be giving KD a long look indeed.