Kevin Durant opened up on his controversial decision to leave the OKC Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Kevin Durant was at the center of arguably the most hated free agency decision in NBA history when he joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016. He was coming off blowing a 3-1 Conference Finals lead with the OKC Thunder to the Warriors. Golden State had gone 73-9 in the 2015-16 season but lost the Finals, prompting their successful pursuit of Durant which sealed titles in 2017 and 2018.
Durant spoke at length about his decision on the 'Out The Mud' Podcast, with his explanation boiling down to just wanting to experience a new NBA lifestyle with the star-laden Warriors after spending 9 years with the Thunder.
"People enjoyed having me around OKC. So me leaving like that when we were close to getting to the Finals, I understood why people were pissed off but I couldn't make a decision based off what other people wanted me to do. I felt like around that time, there was no one reason behind a big decision like that. It's a lot of different factors in why I wanted to leave OKC.
The majority of it was, I wanted a new experience, I wanted to play a different style, live in a different city, and experience a different life in a new city because all I knew was OKC. I wanted to play for different management, I just wanted to experience what life was like under a different organization. On top, having the opportunity to play with some of the best players who matched my skillset.
"So everything in line, I feel like you've seen that and the results we had when we stepped onto the court. We didn't just play ball, we're just flat-out bigger, better, stronger, and faster than you. We played together. We played real team basketball. We made shots. It worked out perfectly and it was the perfect move for me to expand my game... I'm grateful I was there to get that chance."
Durant averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks in three seasons with the Warriors, winning two titles and two Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018.
He would leave the Warriors after the 2019 Finals where he tore his Achilles after season-long disagreements with Draymond Green and a desire to team up with his close friend Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets.
Unfortunately, Durant's Brooklyn tenure was not as successful as Golden State's. He missed large chunks of time due to injury, as did Kyrie. Kyrie would also sit out half a season due to the COVID-19 vaccine, which ruined the Nets who also acquired James Harden in 2022 to supplement Durant and Kyrie.
Kevin spoke positively about his time with the Nets as well.
"Man, Brooklyn was f***king with me for sure. I liked it out there. I loved it out there. It looked good too, it looked great. We just couldn't get on the court together. Injuries, COVID, all that stuff played a factor. But when you turn that film and you watch us on the court together, it was some sh*t you could teach a team. We put some good stuff on film.:
Outside his three-year Warriors stint, Durant hasn't been able to play at the pinnacle of basketball. He hasn't played in a Conference Finals since his last season with the Warriors, with his Phoenix Suns currently sitting 19-20.
It doesn't look like this is a season for contention either, though the 36-year-old forward won't have many more cracks at the title.
