Kevin Durant's move to the Bay Area came along with an evolution, not only of his basketball game, but of his persona — now an older, more aware individual that can grasp the perspective of things around him.
Among them has been his role in a basketball team, admitting he's not a leader by nature, which played a part of why his fit in the Golden State Warriors played out so smoothly upon his arrival in the summer of 2016.
“I came here to play basketball in the exact same way I'm playing it right now,” Durant told GQ's Zach Baron.
Durant's view of an alpha was nothing but a notion of superstardom from the NBA, as pundits worried about a possible clash with franchise star Stephen Curry for the throne of this team.
“Steph Curry is the face of the franchise, and that helps me out, because I don't have to,” he said. “I don't want to have to be the leader. I'm not a leader. I'm bad at saying, ‘Stand behind me and follow me.’ No. I'm one of those guys that's just like, ‘Let's do this shit together. Let's just work everybody together. I don't mind being on the front line with you, but let's come and do it together.’ That's my way of leadership. I'm leading by example.”
While Curry isn't a vocal leader, his familiarity and veteran experience as the longest-tenured Warrior in the organization brings a definite leadership by default — one that took another responsibility off Durant's shoulder and allowed him to focus at the task at hand.
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