Kevin Durant rocked the NBA world by declaring his intent to join the Golden State Warriors. It was the moment that the 29 other teams prayed would not happen.
But why Golden State? The team that broke his heart in May. The same team that looked least needy of his services. Why compete with the likes of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson for touches?
In a recent article by ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Durant’s father, Wayne Pratt, gave everyone a clue through how he advised the former league MVP on his free agency approach.
For once in your life be selfish and think about yourself. That’s the only thing I could tell him. And it’s hard for him to do that because that is not in his personality. But sometimes in your growth as a man you have to be selfish and make decisions that are based on him and his future family.
The seven-footer in denial has been a fixture for the Oklahoma City Thunder for nine years, in which he led the team to its peak in 2012 with a finals appearance. He had Russell Westbrook by his side for the most part, but that was it. The burden was still on Kevin Durant’s frail shoulders.
For Durant, it was a difficult choice. But it was a decision that only he fully understands, and he is ready to live with it.
When he woke us up, I know he was confident in the decision that he made. He woke us all up in the morning saying he knew where he wanted to go. We were asleep. He told us he wanted us to go downstairs to talk to him. He said, ‘I want to be a Warrior.
I said, ‘Let’s go if that’s what you want to do!’ I said, ‘You understand the backlash that’s going to happen?’ He said, ‘I’m ready for it.’ I was just happy that my son at 27 years old made a man decision. We knew that backlash was going to happen. But that’s what makes America so great. We know that everyone was going to have their view, and I’m fine with that.
Together with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, Kevin Durant will be on the floor as part of one of the most, if not the most, prolific “Big Four” in league history.
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