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The NBA world is still in shock after the Brooklyn Nets pulled off an amazing coup by acquiring both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as free agency opened. While everybody expected Irving to move to the Nets after maintaining two years of a shaky relationship with the Boston Celtics, Durant's decision was viewed as more of a toss-up, though apparently the two planned on playing together for a while.
This is the second time Durant has pulled this kind of bombshell move. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith looked into Durant's past decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder, and how it affected his relationship with former teammate Russell Westbrook:
.@stephenasmith brings insight on what he was told happened behind-the-scenes before Kevin Durant signed with the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/YQCxrkTWty
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 3, 2019
Smith makes an interesting claim that Durant actually told Westbrook he would re-sign with the Thunder before fleeing to the Golden State Warriors. Smith claimed sources told him Durant went as far as going to dinner with his soon-to-be ex-teammates the night before announcing his departure, and told them he would be re-signing with the Thunder.
Obviously, this did not happen. Durant would sign with the Warriors and go on to make three NBA Finals appearances while winning two championship rings.
If Smith's sources are correct, it makes sense why Westbrook and Durant struggled to maintain a civil relationship since the latter's departure from Oklahoma City.
Regardless, Kevin Durant is focused on a new goal now. He faces a tough road to recovery from his Achilles injury and a new challenge of bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Brooklyn.
