B/R Exclusive: Kevin Durant Explains Trade Request, Coaching Frustrations and More

The Brooklyn Nets have already had a chaotic start to the season after Tuesday's historic defeat by the Kings. The Kings scored the most points in nearly three decades.

There are other things that can go wrong for the Nets. Kevin can take more.

Rival executives are trying to get a trade request.

In an exclusive Bleacher Report interview, he disclosed details of his trade request this past summer, what he's looking for moving forward, and how leaders are defined.

It is important to understand why certain things happened in the past.

It wasn't hard to request a trade because it was about ball. I went to them and was not happy with how they were preparing. Shootarounds don't appeal to me. I enjoy practicing. I don't have enough. I would like to work on more things. Don't let me get away with it. If you want to get on everyone else's head, get on my ass. I would like to do more close outs. I would like to work on more shell drills.

This was the kind of thing I was going to do to them. It wasn't like, "Y'all need to make my life simpler." I want to make life simpler for everyone. Call Steve Nash right now if you want to. I want more closeout drills. We need to get better. I was on that one.

Nobody was on the same wavelength with me. In the summer I had some complaints about how we are moving as a unit and not just me. I want people to respect us in basketball. I don't want players to say, 'Oh man, these are full of s--t.' I don't want to be on a team like that. When we play like s--t, they will look at one person. That's why I asked for a trade.

It took more than a different coach roaming the sidelines to make the Nets one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference after they fired Nash.

"I like good practices, I like a good preparation, and we've been showing that, to be honest," he said. Regardless of the loss tonight and last game, the coaches have been doing a good job. I believe we have been prepared well. Guys are interested in winning. We play as hard as possible. I need that.

Last summer, I said that. I don't think we had those things last year, but I think we're building that right now. Guys have been figuring out their roles in the lineup despite the fact that we have some guys in and out. It's been fun, no matter what the game is.

KD says he is enjoying his time with the team and is happy with his situation.

It has been enjoyable grinding with these guys. It has been enjoyable grinding with her. It has been enjoyable trying to help other people. I see a lot of crazy defenses every night. I don't know how a team will protect me. It's helping me mentally as a player to see things a little bit slower.

With Ben Simmons' availability unknown from game to game, and with Irving still serving his suspension, Durant is left on an island to fight off the opposition. That is where he is having the most enjoyable time.

It's enjoyable because it makes me better as a basketball player. My career is set if I am able to experience everything. I've been through it all, from winning a championship to requesting a trade. Everything I did in this league was done by me.

I wasn't expecting the last two years to see a seventh seed get swept in the first round. That's all. There is a part of the league. Everybody's journey includes that. It doesn't mean I'm miserable. A lot of guys go through bulls-t in the league. I have a view on it. I want to experience s--t while I'm here. I don't have a lot of time as a player. I'm not able to do this forever. While I'm here, I'm interested in everything.

What he values in a healthy work environment is what answers many questions about the unhappiness he felt this past off-season. He wanted the front office and coaching staff to be held accountable for their actions.

His name is never brought up in the NBA.

I don't think I'm a leader. Do you know what that means? The man asked B/R. A lot of people think I'm not a leader because I didn't tell my son to get vaccine. Let's come on. I didn't condemn him for leaving the team. I am not going to tell a grown-ass man what he can and cannot do with his own life.

Everybody else doesn't need to know or hear about our conversations because we're grown ass men. I operate in a different way.

KD doesn't need to tell everyone what he's doing with his teammates so they can say he's the leader. The other people need that. I don't I don't want you to write about me. I don't do that to anyone else. I respect everyone here. Even after a big loss, I still talk to you like a real person.

In Year 16 he wants to set an example of how a player can maximize situations that aren't ideal. He wants to instill confidence in his teammates that they have a chance against anyone, even though the Nets don't measure up with the best.

Look at our lineups. A group of people, including me and Joe Harris. What do you expect from that group? The man asked about B/R. I am out there so you expect us to win. You expect us to play well because No. 7 is out there.

I'm having fun. I would like to talk during the game. People wouldn't ask me if I'm happy or not if I got mic'd up more. I tore my Achilles while I was on this court, so I'm enjoying every moment I can. I wasn't sure if we were going to play again. I was not sure if I would play again.

I was like, "This can't be it for me." Every single moment I'm out here, I have to have fun. Being a pro includes that. I have to be aggressive, I have to knock down shots, and I have to be coachable. The journey and the battle are what we are talking about.

It's bulls--t to say that you need to win before you retire and make sure your legacy is straight. My legacy is dependent on what Cam Thomas learns from me and what he takes away to help him when he is in his tenth year. My legacy is that When he was in the league I helped him build his confidence. My legacy is that Being able to play with some of the best players in the world. That is my legacy. I'm that person. That is what I bring to the table.

I can play with anyone, anywhere, at any time. That should be something I leave behind.

Chris Haynes has been covering the NBA for 13 years, with stops at Yahoo, Cleveland.com, and others. He can be found on the sideline on NBA broadcasts.