DeAndre Jordan on Kevin Durant: ‘He’s progressing great, he’s recovering fast’

DeAndre Jordan was slinging meatless biscuits at a Dunkin’ Donuts in midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning, part of a promotion for a company he and Kyrie Irving invested in, Beyond Meat.

Surrounded by people of normal height, Jordan was impossible to miss. And the three-time All-NBA center wasn’t just talking about his investment (Beyond Meat’s stock price go up by 720% since it went public in May). He was talking about the Nets ... and his friend and teammate, Kevin Durant.

“We’ve got a lot of talent on this team,” he told Gothamist. “You know obviously Kevin [Durant] had a tough injury, he’s going to be out for a while, but he’s progressing great, he’s recovering fast, we’ll be even better when we get him back and healthy.”

Was that (another) hint that KD may not be out the full season? He didn’t say, but the 6’11” former Knick sounded optimistic nonetheless about his new team.

“Not to knock the culture the Knicks are creating,” he said, apparently speaking on behalf of him and his teammates, “but we like what Kenny ’s doing and Sean’s been awesome and the organization, from top to bottom, has been great. So you want to be a part of something like that, especially when you have a chance to play with other great players and build something.”

The Houston native is embracing Brooklyn as well, he told Gothamist’s Jen Chung. “I love that you can walk everyone,” Jordan enthused. “I’ve become a huge fan of the subway, even though I’ve gotten lost... well, not lost, but went the wrong direction on the subway a couple of times.”

As Chung pointed out, Jordan has been using the subway since he was traded from Dallas to the Knicks for Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline.

Jordan also said he appreciates the fan interest.

“The people, the fans are extremely into basketball, they know the game, and they are very passionate,” he said. “As a player, that’s the fanbase you want.”

As for the Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich he was promoting —one of the first customers was former Met David Wright— Jordan was just as enthusiastic.

“The product is really good,” Jordan, a vegan, told Gothamist. “From an environmental standpoint, it’s huge for us as people,” he added, referring to Beyond Meat’s claims that plant-based “meats” require half the energy, much less water, etc. than real meat.

• Brooklyn Nets Player DeAndre Jordan Loves Taking The Subway & Dunkin’s New Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwiches - Jen Chung - Gothamist
• DeAndre Jordan talks Kevin Durant health and Nets’ culture - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• DeAndre Jordan explains why he and his star buddies chose the Nets - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News