Possibly the biggest name in this summer's NBA free agent class, Kevin Durant has decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
The announcement was made on The Players' Tribune, a media platform used by professional athletes to share their own experiences and tell their own stories.
Listed as a "Deputy Publisher" for the website, 27-year-old Durant narrowed down his choices to the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder. That made for interesting timing, as the Thunder came up just short of reaching the NBA Finals this year, blowing a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Warriiors
"This has been by far the most challenging few weeks in my professional life," Durant said referring to his decision.
"I understood cognitively that I was facing a crossroads in my evolution as a player and as a man, and that it came with exceptionally difficult choices. What I didn't truly understand, however, was the range of emotions I would feel during this process," Durant continued
"The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors."
Since Lebron James' announcement in 2014 that he would return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending four seasons with the Miami Hit, Durant's addnouncement has been the most frenzy surrounding an NBA free agent decision.
The 2014 NBA MVP was third in league scoring this past season with 28.2 points per game. He will also be playing as part of the US Olympic men's team for the Rio Games in August.
Durant, who had played for the same organization his entire career, was No. 2 pick of the 2007 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. The SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City and was renamed the Thunder in the 2008-2009 season. The Thunder reached the NBA Finals in 2012, losing to Miami Heat.
Durant wrote that he will miss Oklahoma City.
"I'm from Washington, D.C. originally, but Oklahoma City truly raised me," Durant said. "It taught me so much about family as well as what it means to be a man. There are no words to express what the organization and the community mean to me, and what they will represent in my life and in my heart forever. The memories and friendships are something that go far beyond the game. Those invaluable relationships are what made this deliberation so challenging," the athlete wrote.
"It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career."
Photo: Sporting News
Source: CNN
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