Chicago Bulls legend and NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen believes Kevin Durant should leave the Golden State Warriors after this season.
Kevin Durant has a player-option with the Warriors for the 2019-20 campaign. Scottie Pippen says now that he has two championships on his résumé and is likely to win a third one this season, the superstar small forward should look to run his own team.
“I would tell him to go off and do it on his own,” Pippen said on ESPN's The Jump. “Because I think he's capable of leading a team on his own. I think he's capable of winning a championship by himself, with another player, but KD is the best player in the league right now.”
Over the last 11 games and in the absence of Stephen Curry (adductor strain), Durant has been putting up monster numbers. The nine-time All-Star is averaging 33.7 points per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Most recently, Durant scored 51 points in a losing effort against the Toronto Raptors.
Pippen explained that Durant had to play with Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, forcing him to hold back since Westbrook takes so many shots.
Now with the Warriors, Durant doesn't step on anyone's toes since Golden State's offense is predicated on ball movement. As a result, Durant hasn't been able to show off his full arsenal of skills. He has, however, been able to be the main guy while Curry has been out. That will change Saturday, as Curry returns to the lineup against the Detroit Pistons.
No one knows what Durant is going to do after this season. His impending free agency is going to be a talking point throughout the year.
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