In the year In 2019, Kevin Durant was traded by the Golden State Warriors to the Brooklyn Nets. He felt his time on the West Coast was over. The 12-time All-Star won two NBA championships and Finals MVPs with Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
On Friday, Durant was asked why he wanted out of the Bay Area. “It was another pillar,” said the 15-year veteran. I want to play football somewhere else. But many see that I am chasing something. And I think that I said ‘I don’t want to be number two anymore’ is probably the starting point.
According to a few NBA betting sites, the Nets have the sixth-best odds to win the championship in 2023. Some sportsbooks are favoring the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics.
Kevin Durant says he was conflicted about leaving the Bay Area, but felt he would stand apart from the Warriors who were drafted or developed their careers there. pic.twitter.com/CaWYHRgOIt
— ESPN (@espn) September 10, 2019
In the year During the 2016 season, Durant joined Golden State after the Oklahoma City Thunder lost in seven games to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
Durant and the Thunder’s only NBA Finals appearance came back in 2012, but the team lost in five games against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. It was during that season that James Harden won the Sixth Man of the Year and Durant was awarded the All-Star Game MVP.
Nets forward Kevin Durant left the Warriors to play for another team, not to prove he’s better than LeBron James or Michael Jordan.
“I was number two in the draft in high school. I had to explain to people, but I lost in the final. I wanted to come back and win the Finals,” Durant added.
“It wasn’t about: ‘I want to be better than ever. I want to be better than LeBron or [Michael Jordan]. I don’t give it that way. I want to wake up every day and do what I do. If we win, I know things will come of me being the best I can be.
Steve Kerr says Kevin Durant is “the same guy” he was four seasons ago playing for the Warriors.
“He’s one of the greatest goalscorers of all time… he can hit the ball, he’s man of the match.” pic.twitter.com/j46zeD2lyg
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 21, 2022
In a 143-113 blowout win over the Warriors in Brooklyn on Wednesday, the Nets scored 91 points in the first half, the third-most by a team in NBA history. Durant finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four rebounds in 30 minutes.
Despite Golden State winning its fourth championship in eight years, Kevin Durant seems satisfied with the Nets. But this past season showed everyone that KD needs new leadership.
Durant wanted GM Sean Marks and then-head coach Steve Nash fired. After a 2-5 start, Nash was bottled up. Under coach Jacques Vaughn, the Nets went 18-7, the best record in the NBA since Vaughn’s promotion.
