New Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant believes the requests made by him and former teammate Kyrie Irving to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets bolstered the NBA's popularity.

"I don't think it's bad for the league," Durant said Saturday during All-Star Weekend, courtesy of ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "It's bringing more eyes to the league, more people are more excited.

"The tweets that I get, the news hits that we got from me being traded, Kyrie being traded, it just brings more attention to the league and that's really what rakes the money in, when you get more attention. So, I think it's great for the league, to be honest."

Irving was in his last year under contract after exercising a $36.9-million player option in June 2022. However, while reportedly negotiating an extension with Brooklyn, Irving suddenly asked to be traded, as both sides failed to reach an agreement. Days later, the Nets shockingly shipped the eight-time All-Star to the Dallas Mavericks.