Nets’ schedule highlighted by returns of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving

When the NBA schedule dropped Thursday, Nets followers’ eyes absolutely went straight to 2 matchups: reunions with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

And each of their former superstars — who demanded trades last season — are again in Brooklyn every week aside.

Durant makes his return on Jan. 31 along with his high-powered Phoenix Suns, and Irving comes again to Brooklyn on Feb. 6 with the Dallas Mavericks.

Each shall be emotionally charged in Barclays Heart.

After each superstars joined the Nets in 2019, titles had been anticipated.

As a substitute there have been troubles, from Durant’s accidents limiting him to simply 129 video games to Irving’s controversies — missing two-thirds of 2021-22 due to his refusal to get vaccinated, and getting suspended last season for promoting an anti-Semitic movie.

Irving compelled a commerce in February, and Durant adopted out the door simply days later, taking the Nets’ championship hopes with him.

The All-Stars’ returns would be the most-hyped and scrutinized components of the schedule — though removed from the one highlights.

Brooklyn’s slate consists of the NBA Paris Sport 2024, a regular-season tilt towards Cleveland on Jan. 11 (2 p.m. Japanese, NBA TV).

With their stars gone and their ceiling lowered, the Nets are on nationwide tv simply 11 instances, half a dozen of these being on NBA TV.

They had been predictably additionally left off the Christmas Day lineup; however they do have a vacation sport, internet hosting the NBA finalist Miami Warmth on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Barclays Heart.

Brooklyn had 26 video games on ABC, ESPN or TNT two years in the past, and 13 final season — two of which had been dumped after the Durant and Irving trades.

This season it’s down to simply 5. Signal of the instances.

The departure of these superstars introduced again the inspiration for the Nets’ retooling (together with a trove of first-round draft picks).

Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson make their return to Phoenix on Dec. 13, going through off towards Durant.

Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie — in his second tour of obligation with the Nets — play at Dallas within the second sport of the season on Oct. 27.

Brooklyn opens the season two nights earlier at house towards the visiting Cavaliers.

Longtime Internet Joe Harris returns to Barclays on Dec. 23, a day after the Nets host the defending-champion Nuggets at 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV.

Generational rookie Victor Wembanyama makes his Brooklyn debut on Feb. 10 with the Spurs.

LeBron James and the Lakers go to on March 31.