Durants, Nets to stay "locked in" and ignore "chatter" for NBA season

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant says his team needs to focus on the upcoming NBA season and ignore the saga surrounding fellow teammate Kyrie Irving.

"We know how crazy this year might be as far as the chatter around our team," Durant said on the eve of the Nets season opener against defending champions Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

"So we want to stay locked in with each other, focus on whoever's in the building and let that stuff take care of itself."

Nets general manager Seasn Marks had said Irving's noncompliance with New York City's COVID-19 vaccination mandate would make him ineligible to play or practice with the team.