The "what if" moment that changed every NBA team forever

Brooklyn Nets: What if the Nets were able to keep Irving, Harden, and Durant together?

In a few years, it might be a distant memory, but for a year and a half, the Brooklyn Nets assembled likely the greatest offensive trio in NBA history. Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant all being on the same team felt like something straight out of NBA 2K, but it was a reality until it wasn't. The star-studded lineup was seen as the title favorites entering the 2021 NBA Playoffs, and they might have beaten the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of the East semi-finals had it not been for Durant's foot being on the 3-point line.

That resulted in overtime and eventually helped the Bucks eliminate the Nets. The following season, they seldom played with one another. Actually, the trio played just 16 games together in Brooklyn, primarily due to injuries to one of their three stars and Irving being suspended or sitting out due to his various controversies.

His antics may have led to Harden wanting out and the Nets trading him in a deal for Ben Simmons, which has yet to work out for Brooklyn thus far. Durant and Irving were later traded to the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, respectively, but had they had more time together, the Nets would've undoubtedly won a title.