You know who took the most heat for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder and signing with the Golden State Warriors after they knocked them out of the playoffs? Well, you know who.
Kevin Durant has pretty much endured an avalanche of hatred, not only from OKC fans, but fans from across the NBA who may have already hated the Dubs and needed more reason to do it thanks to their super ‘Super Team.’ Some have even pegged him as the new villain of the NBA and he’s certainly playing like he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
Even with all of the negativity coming his way, KD thinks he made the right decision for himself:
“I made the 100 percent correct decision, win or lose. I feel like this is the place I was supposed to be. I appreciate everything I’ve done before this. But I’m here now, and I feel like it’s a great spot for me to be. This is where I am supposed to be at this point of my life. I’m taking it on and conquering every part of it. I’m enjoying every single step.”
On the criticism he took after leaving the Thunder from media and social networks:
I was more so confused. You can say whatever you want about my decision or who you think I am. The only thing that matters is in between the lines. I respect the game. I work hard. I came in and respect my teammates. I respect just the competitiveness of the game of basketball. That’s in between the lines. I try to play the right way and handle myself the right way. I am just confused as to why that stuff doesn’t matter more than what happens on Twitter or whatever the topic of discussion is each day. I think it takes away from what is most important: that ball and that basket, everything in between the lines.
I don’t expect anyone who has never been there before to understand that. They have nothing else to talk about because they don’t really know what it is or what it feels like to be on the court in an NBA game. I don’t hold it against them. That’s why I am not mad.
I’m just more so confused that you can be an analyst or an expert, and I want to talk to the people who disrespect what goes on in between the lines. I respect a lot of people in [the media] business who really appreciate how hard it is to get to this point. So, I’m more so confused that [select media] doesn’t talk about the game of basketball more so than narratives and gossip around basketball. That’s what I’m more confused about.
Here’s what he had to say about having fun on the court with Golden State now:
It’s just basketball. You have people here who realize that the most important thing is it’s a game. You have fun. But you also should be passionate and dedicated. That is what everybody’s vision is. We know how important it is to everybody else. It’s not that serious.
There is fine line between being passionate, taking it serious and being too serious. We kind of tiptoe that line a little bit more so on the not-so-serious side. I think that’s what makes it fun and makes you have a good time.
The Warriors are certainly headed to the NBA Finals, but how competitive will their presumed matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers be? Is this the year Durant gets that ring he always wanted?
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