User:Eithersummer/sandbox/mynextchapter

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Durant with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2014

"My Next Chapter" is an article by National Basketball Association player Kevin Durant announcing that he would sign with the Golden State Warriors. It was published in The Player's Tribune on July 4, 2016, three days after Durant had become an unrestricted free agent.

Background[edit]

NBA free agency[edit]

Kevin Durant[edit]

Durant was drafted in 2007 by the Seattle Supersonics, which became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. During his nine seasons with the team he established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's best players, was a seven-time NBA All-Star, and led the team to a near-victory over the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals.[1][2] Durant was considered at the time to have developed strong ties to the Thunder and the city, stating that he would prefer to play his entire career for the Thunder.[3]

Other teams' attempts to court Durant[edit]

Golden State Warriors[edit]

Summary[edit]

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.

Kevin Durant, "My Next Chapter"

The 353-word article was published in the The Player's Tribune on July 4, 2016. In it, Durant states that his decision to join the Warriors was based on his desire to move out of his comfort zone and to a new location that would maximize his potential to grow as a player and person. He briefly reflects fondly on his time with the Thunder, expresses regret that he will disappoint many fans with his choice, and concludes by stating that he will miss the team.[4]

Reactions[edit]

Durant's decision was criticized as "taking the easy way out", joining a powerhouse team that had both won 73 regular season games in the previous season and defeated the Thunder in the playoffs.[5] Commentator Stephen A. Smith referred to the move as "weak" on Twitter,[6] and many NBA players used the platform to express surprise at the decision.[7] Much of the criticism was also attributed to a sense that Durant's move would make the league much less competitive, as the Warriors with Durant would overwhelmingly dominate the Western Conference, thereby preventing any other teams in the conference from making it to the NBA Finals, similar to how the Eastern Conference was dominated by teams led by LeBron James.[8] Fans of the Thunder were particularly incensed at Durant's percieved betrayal of the franchise in joining the Warriors.[9] The volume of backlash, which included vandalism in the area surrounding Durant's home,[10] led him to initially regret his move.[11] The decision and the criticism were compared to James's move to the Miami Heat in 2010 and the resulting reaction, respectively,[1] though the Warriors with Durant were projected to be much more talented than the Heat with James by virtue of being younger and having more star players.[8] Concerns were also raised over the sustainability of the Warriors' new roster, as they would have to cut "trusted" players like center Andrew Bogut to clear salary cap space for Durant, and new starting center Draymond Green would therefore need to endure greater physical punishment.[12]

Aftermath[edit]

Durant with the Golden State Warriors in 2019

Durant would go on to play for three seasons with the Warriors, winning two consecutive NBA championships with the team in 2017 and 2018.[13] He was booed during his first game against the Thunder as a Warriors player.[14] On July 7, 2019, he was acquired by the Brooklyn Nets in a sign-and-trade deal.[15]

Durant has more recently stated that he does not regret joining the Warriors, and in a Bleacher Report-hosted conversation with Draymond Green he said that he would "do that shit a million times".[16] Conversely, Durant has stated that he has no intention of returning to Oklahoma City, citing the treatment from the organization's fans and staff,[10] though relations have warmed as of 2023.[17]

Notes and references[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Hoffman, Benjamin (July 5, 2016). "Kevin Durant to Join the Golden State Warriors". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Amick, Sam (July 4, 2016). "Kevin Durant announces he will sign with Golden State Warriors". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Hamm, Jon (September 21, 2017). "Setting the Record Straight on the Kevin Durant Era in Oklahoma City". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Durant, Kevin (July 4, 2016). "My Next Chapter". The Player's Tribune. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Gregory, Sean (June 8, 2017). "In Defense of Kevin Durant". TIME. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Verma, Atreya (July 4, 2016). "NBA Twitter Reacts to Kevin Durant Joining Golden State Warriors". Heat Nation. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Greenberg, Neil (July 4, 2016). "Durant's decision to join Warriors sparks huge reaction, crashes Players' Tribune site". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Gallo, DJ (July 6, 2016). "How Kevin Durant lived long enough to see himself become a villain". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Young, Royce (February 10, 2017). "What Kevin Durant left behind in Oklahoma City". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Moehringer, J.R. (September 10, 2019). "Kevin Durant's New Headspace". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Steinberg, Jon (September 25, 2017). "KD and the VCs: How Kevin Durant Became a Made Man in Silicon Valley". San Francisco. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Lasaitis, Vytis (July 4, 2016). "Breaking Down How Kevin Durant Fits After Signing with Golden State Warriors". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; December 2, 2016 suggested (help)
  13. ^ Almanza, Clemente (July 4, 2023). "On this day: Kevin Durant leaves the Thunder for the Warriors". OKC Thunder Wire. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  14. ^ Caron, Emily (September 10, 2019). "Kevin Durant on Oklahoma City: 'I Don't Trust Nobody There'". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ^ "Brooklyn Nets Acquire 10-time All-Star and Two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant". NBA. July 7, 2019. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Feldman, Dan (August 20, 2021). "Kevin Durant on joining Warriors: 'I would do that s*** a million times'". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  17. ^ Lovelace, Ross (April 4, 2023). "Kevin Durant Continues to Show Love to Oklahoma City: 'They're Building Something Special'". Fan Nation. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
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