Kevin Durant dropped a bombshell at the start of the 2019 NBA free agency hustling. KD announced he's signing up with the Brooklyn Nets, a team in search of an NBA title, and moving out of the Bay Area. After three years with the Golden State Warriors, the two-time Finals MVP had decided he needs a new home, which supposedly had eluded him while winning two championships with the Dub Nation.
Surprising as it was, Durant's exit from the Warriors did not happen overnight. Over the three years that he spent with the team, he found fame, success, and honor. But the things that apparently escaped him proved more important than anything else, and that would be respect and a real home.
It turned out that jostling for respect in a crowded gang of superstars that the Warriors are proved difficult. And more so if somebody like a Stephen Curry is always around. According to NBC Sports, KD "felt like a distant second fiddle to Stephen Curry."
That's because the Warriors fans never failed to celebrate Curry. Each time he steps on the free-throw, he's always greeted with the chant, "M-V-P, M-V-P." For Durant, the embrace from the fans came too late. When he got the chance to be feted as MVP, he's already wrestling with the idea of finding a new home. In his mind, he had to get out for the purpose.
Unexpectedly, a good friend felt KD. Kendrick Perkins, who played with Durant at the Oklahoma City Thunder, told The Undefeated that leaving the Warriors was right for Durant. He shared that after a chat with KD, it was obvious his friend is happy.
Durant is at peace with his decision despite rejecting the offer from Golden State - a five-year extension that will net him $221 million. He opted for a four-year stint with the Nets for only $164 million plus the prospect of really owning a team.
Brooklyn is adding two more characters to its lineup that will make New York truly a home for Durant. When the campaign starts for Season 2019-20 of the NBA, KD will play alongside Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. According to Perkins, the two are close buddies of Durant, and he's excited to see what's in store for their partnership.
"It's great for KD and Kyrie to be in the New York area. This is a golden opportunity for KD, and I think he will do great," Perkins was reported as saying.
So after moving to his third team in 12 years, "it seems like Durant is on a constant search for respect," according to CBS Sports, adding that by joining the Brooklyn Nets it is hoped that "he can find some personal peace."
