The 2013-14 MVP also had to address how his relationship with former superstar teammate with the Thunder Russell Westbrook played into his decision.
“Obviously we were teammates for so long and I had a lot of great memories. I'm sure he wasn't happy about the decision, but he respected it as my friend,” said Durant. “And the relationship was great. You know, we had great years, something that you'll never take away from us. But like I said, I wanted a new chapter in my life.”
It was the courting of Warriors executives and the team’s stars: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, who successfully pitched Durant on coming to the team earlier this month.
“I was shocked that those four guys came to meet me a couple of days ago, said Durant. The team won 73 games and a championship before. I didn't think they would be interested in a player like me because they've had so much success. But to see them together, they all walked in and it looked like they were holding hands. It was just a family.”
Durant said he consulted his family and business associates on which team he would join this season.
“Yeah, we sat down and we went through the pros and cons of every team, every situation. We looked at it all.” Durant said. “I think the 3rd, the night before 4th of July, we were talking and I was just torn, and I told them I wanted to sleep on it, and when I woke up…about seven in the morning, and I walked in their rooms, they were all asleep, and I woke them up. And I just said, ‘I want to go to the Warriors.’”
The addition of Durant though, means the departure of many others to get the Warriors under the salary cap. And at Thursday’s press conference, head coach Steve Kerr wished them well: “I want to say thank you to Andre Bogut, Harrison Barnes, Leandro Barbosa, Brandon Rush and Festus Ezeli. It's a lot of really good people who are moving on who helped us win a championship.”
Ultimately, though Kerr pointed out exactly what basketball and other major sports are all about: Business.
“[T]his is the NBA, and players move on, players play for different teams, teams try to get better. It's all kind of part of the business as we know, but it's always important to just remember the relationships that have been built and the fact that those don't change once people change uniforms.”
Durant reportedly signed a two-year deal for $54 million dollars. He has an opt-out clause, which means he can renegotiate his deal next season when the NBA’s salary cap goes up, essentially setting up a bigger deal (pay raise) for him next season.
The addition of Durant means expectations for the Warriors are high. Kerr is (mostly) optimistic.
“It really does feel like it should be seamless, and that probably won't be the case. There's always some bumps. But it does feel like it's a perfect fit at both ends and that we should hit the ground running, and that's the hope.”
