Kevin Durant opened up about his thought course of earlier than the commerce deadline when he selected to not return to the Golden State Warriors, regardless that they reportedly had a commerce lined as much as convey him again from the Phoenix Suns.
Throughout an interview with Malika Andrews, she requested Durant to handle feedback made by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who speculated about what influenced his resolution.
“I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not desirous to rerun issues right here,” Kerr instructed Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “He took a lot s— for like, ‘Oh, you’re leaping on the bandwagon.’ After which he’s Finals MVP two years in a row. It’s like he nonetheless will get criticized.”
Durant responded by disagreeing with Kerr’s interpretation.
“Individuals discuss loopy about me on a regular basis,” Durant mentioned. “That’s not the rationale why I didn’t come again. I simply didn’t wish to get traded halfway by the season. It was nothing towards my time with the Warriors, or I heard it was as a result of I don’t like Draymond.
“On the finish of the day, I simply didn’t wish to transfer. And I wished to see it by with my crew in Phoenix. And see what we are able to do by the remainder of the season, so I’m glad I’m nonetheless there.”
When requested how the rest of the season with the Suns would possibly affect his perspective on his future, Durant was candid about his strategy.
“You need to ask the entrance workplace about that. I by no means deliberate on leaving or getting traded. I didn’t ask for a commerce from Phoenix. However, clearly, whenever you pay a lot for a crew and we’re not taking part in as much as our expectation, somebody has to go.
“In all probability ought to verify in with these guys within the entrance workplace all through the remainder of the season to see how they’re feeling. I do know I’m going to attempt to preserve bringing my finest each single day. I’ll let the higher-ups give attention to what’s subsequent.”
Kevin Durant: I Simply Did not Need To Be Traded Midseason, Nothing In opposition to My Time With Warriors https://t.co/AFwW1Vzop2
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 18, 2025
