Kevin Durant's exit from the Golden State Warriors felt like only a matter of time. That time was three years, ultimately choosing to join the Brooklyn Nets over the summer. The former MVP disclosed why he chose to leave what many viewed as basketball's nirvana, next to fellow stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green:

“I came in there wanting to be part of a group, wanting to be part of a family, and definitely felt accepted,” Durant told J.R. Moehringer of WSJ. Magazine. “But I'll never be one of those guys. I didn't get drafted there… Steph Curry, obviously drafted there. Andre Iguodala, won the first Finals, first championship. Klay Thompson, drafted there. Draymond Green, drafted there. And the rest of the guys kind of rehabilitated their careers there. So me? Sh*t, how you going to rehabilitate me? What you going to teach me? How can you alter anything in my basketball life? I got an MVP already. I got scoring titles.”

Durant stood out from those aforementioned, and starkly so. He was already plenty accomplished joining a team that had worked through a few years to reach the top of the basketball world. Keeping that same core in a way hindered the process for Durant, who likely felt like the new guy in school, unable to fully integrate himself as part of that family.

Durant cited the opportunity to join his “best friend in the league” Kyrie Irving as one of the factors that motivated his departure, giving him the chance to build something new with a team that has yet to accomplish great heights.