Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA.
Yet, the two-time champion has accrued some disdain for his distasteful departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the star-studded Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Durant recently told Logan Murdock of The Ringer that he believes his jersey should undoubtedly be retired by both the Thunder and Warriors.
“OKC has to retire my jersey,” he continues. “It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. The same with Golden State. I’m still doing what I’m doing here in Brooklyn, but if I continue on what I’m doing four or five years, then I’ll feel the same way about this program. I better have a home. Because I feel like I am basketball. I breathe it. This is my DNA. I put in the time and respect and love for each one of these programs on and off the floor to get that type of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s personal.”
Durant, 33, played for the Thunder organization for the first nine years of his career, including the rookie season when they were the Seattle SuperSonics.
The veteran led the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals, where the young Thunder lost to alpha LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games.
In his nine seasons with the Thunder franchise, Durant averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He last played for the Thunder when they lost to the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals.
The Warriors, who had lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in stunning fashion in the 2016 NBA Finals, recruited Durant the ensuing summer. Of course, the partnership between the 2014 MVP and 73-9 squad drew plenty of vitriol.
Durant went on to win two titles and two Finals MVPs with the Warriors. The play elevated Durant’s confidence across the league. However, his tenure with the Warriors surely had its downsides.
He put up 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in three seasons with the Warriors. Durant flourished alongside stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The two-time Finals MVP, who joined Brooklyn in 2019, is still trying to help the Nets win a title. The Nets are the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
