It already seems like a long time ago when the Brooklyn Nets had a trio of Kevin Durant , Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Now, the three stars are thriving on different teams, while the Nets are among the worst squads in the Eastern Conference.
If only the Big 3 won a championship, Brooklyn would probably still have a playoff-contending roster today. It came close three years ago, and only injuries stood in its way, as asserted by Justin Jackson, a former benchwarmer for the Milwaukee Bucks , a team that eliminated the Nets in the conference semifinals on their way to securing the 2021 title.
Bit hard by the injury bug
To Jackson’s defense, Brooklyn did look primed to silence the naysayers and establish a mini-dynasty after sealing the East’s No. 2 seed in the regular season. After easily dispatching the Boston Celtics in the first round, the Nets set a meeting with the Bucks.
Injuries set the tone early in the series, as Harden , who averaged 27.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per contest in the previous round, hurt his hamstring and was done for the evening less than a minute into Game 1.