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After just three years with the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant decided to leave Stephen Curry and Co. to take his talents to the Brooklyn Nets. By then, Durant had already won two championships with the Dubs and he knew it was time to move on.
Throughout KD's final season with the Warriors, there were a number of instances that pointed to Durant's looming exit. For his part, however, there was one specific moment wherein Curry himself realized that the odds of KD returning the following year were not very good.
It doesn't come as a surprise at all that this particular circumstance was when Durant had an infamous on-court bust-up with Draymond Green. The pair clashed heads during a timeout and at one point, it even looked like it was going to get physical. In his mind, Curry knew that this was a last straw of sorts for KD:
“That moment was probably the one where it’s clear that it isn’t a foregone conclusion that he’ll be back next year,” Curry said, via Logan Murdock of The Ringer. “There were just a lot of other distractions that were popping up left and right. That we were all having to try to answer to, him included, and a lot that was centered on his future. That was the moment where we all knew we were trying to win a championship.”
Durant's facial expression and body language right after his shouting match with Green were very telling. KD, Green, and even the Warriors tried their best to play down the situation but we all knew that the damage had been done and that there was no coming back from that. To some extent, it felt like KD already had one foot out the door after that incident, and true enough, even Curry felt the same way.
A few months later, Steph received a text from KD confirming his intention to leave the Warriors. According to Steph, he came to see Durant in the latter's apartment in Manhattan not long after. Curry did not try and convince his then soon-to-be-former teammate to remain with the Dubs. Instead, it was a special moment among friends as they reminisced on the good times while also preparing themselves for what lie ahead:
“I obviously just wished him well, because at the end of the day, if you had decisions like that and you’re a grown-ass man that’s trying to do what you feel is right for you, I’m not coming in here trying to change your mind,” Curry says. “Hopefully, he gets back as quickly as possible and trying to connect with him on that level and on a stay-in-touch-type vibe. Because the league works fast. Things change really quick.”
It's very easy to push the narrative of Steph vs. KD during their time together as teammates in Golden State. It's just a really intriguing storyline that's very easy to sell. However, what is clear here is that these two had a great relationship off the court — one that appears to have transcended their time as teammates.
After a strong start to their campaign this season, the Warriors have crashed down back to earth. Nevertheless, they are still one of the favorites to come out of the West. The same can be said of KD and the Nets in the East — as long as they get everybody back and healthy. Wouldn't it be fitting if Durant were to face his former team in the Finals this year? Now that would be a story worth telling.
