This Kevin Durant message brought LaMarcus Aldridge to Brooklyn

Former San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge explains the role Kevin Durant played in him signing with the Brooklyn Nets.

LaMarcus Aldridge was one of two centers floated around on the trade market by his respective team. Just like with Andre Drummond, the San Antonio Spurs had no choice but to buy him out of his contract after being unable to secure a trade partner. Shortly after his buyout, Aldridge signed with the powerhouse Brooklyn Nets.

What exactly got Aldridge to join Brooklyn, you ask? Well, let’s just say Kevin Durant was involved.

When speaking with the media on Tuesday, Aldridge said that Durant was one of the first people to contact him once officially becoming a free agent and told Aldridge, “definitely come here.”

Kevin Durant’s simple message gets LaMarcus Aldridge to sign with Nets

“Brooklyn made it known right away that they were very interested,” said Aldridge, via the Nets’ official website. “KD hit me quick and said definitely come here. It was just waiting it out, weighing my options, and then I just ended up coming here. It’s a pretty good team and I definitely think I can help.”

Three simple words from the former two-time NBA Finals MVP showed Aldridge that the Nets were interested in him, and he ultimately chose to sign on.

The Nets have shown they are all in on competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2021 since the summer of 2019, when they signed Durant and guard Kyrie Irving to massive contracts. Earlier this season, the Nets continued to build their super-team by acquiring James Harden from the Houston Rockets in a four-team trade also including Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers. But that was not all, as they signed Blake Griffin to a deal after he was bought out by the Detroit Pistons. Adding Aldridge was far from shocking.

Aldridge participated in 21 games this season with the Spurs before reaching an agreement with the team to go their separate ways on March 1. This campaign, Aldridge is averaging 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field.

There is no official date set for Aldridge’s debut, as he will ease into the lineup like Griffin did once he joined the Nets. Whenever this Brooklyn team is fully ready and healthy, they look to be tough to beat on paper.