Jacque Vaughn recalls his time coaching Kevin Durant

“My experience with Kevin I'll never forget. For me, in the world of negativity, it was a positive experience. K made me a better coach. There’s one thing that I never, ever doubted when I was part of the staff, going into a game, he wanted to win that game,” Coach Vaughn said about KD after the Nets’ game against the Suns. “That competitiveness, that ability to show up every night is special. He is a special human being.”

Durant continues to add to his legacy

Despite the harsh criticism he received throughout his career, Durant is still one of basketball’s greatest-ever players. He is one of the best mismatch specialists in the game’s history because he combines his length with one of the smoothest skill sets you’ll ever see in basketball.

KD is arguably the most skilled scorer in NBA history because he can do everything on offense. He can drive and score at the rim, but he can also beat the opponents using his silky smooth jump shot from anywhere on the floor.

That combination has made Durant a deadly opponent because he can join any team and integrate himself into the system. He’s one of the best plug-and-play athletes the NBA has ever seen because he fits well alongside all kinds of players.

KD had a strong impact on Brooklyn

Durant might say he didn’t accomplish anything with the Nets, but that is untrue. He helped Brooklyn compete as a legitimate contender by playing some of the best basketball he did while playing for the Nets. He was also vital in bringing in such talents as Kyrie Irving and James Harden, further strengthening the team’s chances of winning a title.

Unfortunately, that did not work out as planned, but KD deserves his flowers for his contributions to Brooklyn’s success over the past few years. It did not work out in the end, but it was a fun time for Brooklyn fans, the players, and the coaching staff members like Jacque.

“He impacted me tremendously. How he moved as a coach, how he communicated with us. It's something I'm going to take with me for the rest of my career,” KD said about Coach Vaughn.