LeBron’s decision to return to Cleveland—and the way in which he did so—was universally lauded by everyone outside the Miami area, and you can count Bron’s buddy Kevin Durant as one of those who thought James made the right move by returning to the Cavs.
“I thought it was well-thought-out. It was classy. It was a great move to do it as a letter,” Durant said Tuesday, after a training camp session with USA Basketball. “That was pretty cool. It’s funny seeing guys think about more than just basketball for once. He thought about the city where he comes from, about Northeast Ohio and how he can affect so many of the kids just being there playing basketball. I love that. So many guys get criticized for making the decision that’s best for them instead of what’s best for everybody else. He’s a guy that did that. You gotta respect that. I applauded him, I texted him and told him congratulations on the decision and told him I was happy for him. As a fan of the game, it’s going to be pretty cool to see him back in Cleveland.”
KD has a similar decision weighing on his mind in the next couple of years, when he becomes a free agent in 2016. He’s already been inundated with questions about whether or not he’ll play for his hometown Washington Wizards.
“I’m going to do what’s best for me,” Durant said. “It’s hard to talk about that right now when I’ve got two years left in Oklahoma City. I’m just going to focus on that. I’m not going to make a decision based on what anybody else does.
“I grew up watching the Bullets/Wizards. I grew up taking the train to that arena, all the time, to watch Georgetown, the Bullets, the Washington Mystics. That whole city is a part of me. It’s in my blood. I love going back home, seeing my family and playing there, but I love Oklahoma City, too.”
“It’s great to feel wanted, you can tell. Guys taking four or five trips to see teams,” Durant said. “You’ve got to see what’s out there if you’re a free agent. We play in a league where it’s so powerful, you can impact so many different people, you’ve got to look at all your options.”
If the Thunder are smart they start loading the team now for a title run the next couple of years in the hopes they can secure a title, so that they’ll either a) entice Durant to stay in OKC, or b) at least have a championship to their name before he leaves town.
[ESPN]