Kevin Durant hints he might not be loyal to Thunder on next contract
One of the most popular topics of discussion concerning Kevin Durant has been his future plans.
Ever since LeBron James returned home to Cleveland — a move which Durant applauded — people have speculated that KD will one day leave Oklahoma City, possibly to return home to DC to play for the Wizards (this tweet added to the complication). Whether or not Durant decides to sign with the Wizards when his contract is up after next season remains to be seen, but it seems like he is preparing the public for the possibility that he will switch teams.
Durant was the subject of an excellent profile by GQ and hinted he won’t be “loyal” on his next deal the way he was the last time around.
From the GQ profile:
Don’t forget, Kevin Durant was not selfish: He signed a full extension in 2010, no opt-outs. He remembers that, even if no one else does, even as he anticipates the lurking storm of recrimination that awaits him if he doesn’t re-up again. “I was loyal. If it comes down to that, I mean: I was. My deal’s up in 2016. I’ll have been here nine years. I could have easily wanted out. I could have easily not signed the extension after my rookie contract. I could have not played as hard every night. But people tend to forget.” Same thing happened to LeBron James, when he switched teams and they burned his jersey. Kevin watched it like, Damn. “This is not just a game for us. This is life. Like, we live and die and breathe by basketball. We’re away from our families to entertain other people.”
None of that means Durant will leave the Thunder, but it sounds like a plea from him to remind the fans that in case he does, they should also remember the great years he gave to the franchise.
On Wednesday Durant met with the media and was asked about people thinking his comments made it seem like he was positioning himself to let people down.
“See, that’s what I was talking about. People want to believe that because one person (on the radio said that). They haven’t talked to me, they don’t know what I’m thinking, none of that. Obviously I can’t defend myself when a bunch of people are going to write something that’s not true. That’s what I was talking about. How can you say something on the radio without talking to me? I know that’s your job, but you can’t just say that if you don’t know me at all, don’t know what I’m thinking, my family or friends,” Durant said via The Oklahoman.
Alrighty then. Maybe Durant is leaving OKC. Or maybe he just does not like uninformed people speculating about his future.
Ultimately Durant’s future probably depends on the future of the Thunder. If they can win a title in either of the next two seasons, he probably will stay. If they don’t, he’ll probably be inclined to leave.
