Rick Pitino: 'Nets are a championship team with Durant and Irving' / News - Basketnews.com

After Kevin Durant decided to remain with the Brooklyn Nets, legendary coach Rick Pitino thinks that Nets with the core of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons will compete for the NBA title.

Credit: BasketNews/V.Mikaitis, AP-Scanpix Credit BasketNews/V.Mikaitis, AP-Scanpix

After Kevin Durant decided to stay with the Brooklyn Nets, Iona College head coach Rick Pitino shared his thoughts on the current situation.

Kyrie Irving

Position:PG, SGAge:30Height:191 cmWeight:87 kgBirth place:Melbourne, AustraliaProfileNewsStatistics

Former Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics coach thinks that Nets now have a real chance of competing for the NBA title.

"They are a team with championship quality," Pitino said. "If you have three great players, they're going to get injured, they're going to miss some games. You have to make sure that the guys on the bench can fill that role because they will get injured."

"In the case of some of the guys on the Nets, they miss many games. You have to make sure the 4-8 can play," Pitino added.

Talking about Durant and Kyrie Irving, Pitino emphasized their level of talent. The 69-year-old also didn't forget about Ben Simmons, saying he will also be a key part of the group.

"These two [Durant and Irving] are a few of the most explosive and aggressive basketball players in the NBA, and if Simmons is healthy, he's a great playmaker and a great defensive player. So this is a great group."

"I don't know who [will be] 4-8th [best players on the team], but it will be a key component of whether they can win a championship," Pitino continued.

Pitino also shared the thought of how Simmons could become for the Nets what Draymond Green is for the Golden State Warriors.

"Every team needs a Draymond Green, and I think Simmons will probably fill that role.He's the playmaker, he's the player who will play defense," Pitino concluded.

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