Kevin Durant Discusses His Opposition to the Warriors Trade: “It Didn’t Make Sense”

In a candid and revealing discussion, Kevin Durant, one of the NBA’s most prolific players of the 21st century, shared his thoughts on the controversial trade that sent him from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors. Durant’s decision to leave a team on the verge of a championship, where he was the central star, to join a Warriors team that had just set the NBA’s regular-season record for wins, was met with mixed reactions across the basketball world. Some viewed it as a betrayal of competitive integrity, while others saw it as a strategic move for a player in pursuit of an NBA title.

But, in the wake of the trade, Durant, who won two NBA championships and two Finals MVPs with the Warriors, has often spoken out about his experience and the reasoning behind his decision. While Durant’s departure from Oklahoma City was a business decision fueled by personal and professional motivations, his opposition to the Warriors trade came from a series of internal conflicts within the organization and with his own sense of purpose and identity as a player.

The Trade That Shook the NBA: A Recap of Events

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s shocking decision to trade Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors took place in the summer of 2016. Durant, fresh off an emotional defeat at the hands of the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, faced a free-agent decision that would shape the rest of his career. Having spent eight seasons with the Thunder, including one in which he won the MVP award (2014), Durant was one of the most sought-after free agents in the league. His departure from Oklahoma City was a seismic shift for both the Thunder and the Warriors, and it redefined the NBA landscape in ways few could have anticipated.

Golden State, coming off a 73-win season, had just lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, in what would be known as the greatest collapse in Finals history. The Warriors had the framework of a championship contender, but the addition of Durant gave them an overwhelming advantage. With Durant in the fold, the Warriors became a juggernaut, dominating the league for the next several years.

However, Durant’s journey in Golden State was far from smooth sailing. While he was able to secure two championships and two Finals MVPs in three seasons with the Warriors, Durant began to feel the weight of the trade and the inevitable complexities it presented to his career and personal identity. It was this internal struggle that led Durant to express frustration with his time in the Bay Area, especially the way the trade had been executed.

Kevin Durant’s Opposition: The Trade Didn’t Make Sense

In an interview, Durant spoke about his opposition to the trade in blunt terms. He remarked, “It didn’t make sense.” What Durant meant by this statement was an acknowledgment that, while the trade to the Warriors initially seemed like the best move for his career on paper, the reality of the situation was far more complicated.

Durant had grown up in Washington, D.C., and spent the majority of his career with the Thunder, establishing himself as the face of the franchise. His decision to leave for the Warriors was motivated by a desire to play for a team with a proven track record of success, but what he didn’t foresee was the intense media scrutiny and perception of his decision.

The Confusion of the Move

Durant explained that he was caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and external pressures after the trade. The decision was both personal and professional, but the overwhelming criticism from fans, media, and fellow players painted him as weak for joining a superteam that already had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. To Durant, the Warriors’ addition of him didn’t make sense because it changed the entire narrative of his career. His move from Oklahoma City to Golden State, initially intended as a path to greatness, turned into a source of internal conflict as he struggled with his place within the Warriors’ established system.

Durant felt that by joining the Warriors, he was essentially confirming the narrative that he couldn’t win on his own. For much of his career, Durant had been seen as one of the top players in the league, but he was often criticized for not being able to secure an NBA championship with the Thunder. The decision to leave Oklahoma City, a place where he had made his mark as a franchise player, to join a team that had already dominated the league, seemed to many like a surrender. Durant, however, had his own motivations and reasons that weren’t immediately clear to outsiders.

The Impact of the Superteam Dynamic

One of the key elements that Durant discussed was the dynamics of the Warriors as a “superteam.” He acknowledged that joining a team with already-established stars and a pre-existing system of play came with both advantages and challenges. On the one hand, the Warriors’ style of play suited Durant’s game perfectly, as their up-tempo, ball movement-heavy offense allowed him to be both a scorer and a facilitator. On the other hand, Durant found himself playing second fiddle to Stephen Curry in the public eye, despite his essential role in the Warriors’ success.

The media scrutiny was relentless. Durant was constantly asked about his decision to join the Warriors, with many framing his choice as a move to “take the easy route.” He had essentially given up on trying to lead his own team to a title, choosing instead to chase rings with a ready-made dynasty. To Durant, this didn’t make sense. Why had he worked so hard to build himself as a leader only to be seen as part of a superteam? The external pressure created an environment where Durant constantly had to defend himself, even though, on the court, he was performing at an elite level.

The tension between the reality of playing for a championship-caliber team and the public perception of his decision created a sense of unease for Durant. He had joined a team that was already successful, but now he had to navigate the expectations of being a “hired gun” rather than a homegrown superstar.

Durant’s Personal Reflections on Leadership

One of the main reasons Durant’s move to the Warriors didn’t sit well with him was because of the shift in leadership dynamics. In Oklahoma City, Durant had been the leader, the focal point of the team. He was tasked with carrying the load offensively and was expected to lead by example on and off the court. But in Golden State, Durant was joining a team with multiple strong personalities and proven leaders. Curry, Thompson, and Green were already a cohesive unit, and Durant had to learn how to fit in with their established roles.

Durant, ever the perfectionist, realized that this would mean adjusting to a different type of leadership. While his skills on the court were unquestionable, he was forced to take on a different role within the Warriors’ culture. Durant was not the face of the franchise in Golden State, and the loss of his previous autonomy led to some internal struggles. He had always been a player who prided himself on being able to step up and take control when needed, but in Golden State, that role was not always available to him.

This transition created friction between Durant and the Warriors’ existing stars, especially in the early days of his tenure. While the team went on to achieve historic success, with Durant becoming a central figure in their dominance, he always seemed to be in a position of compromise.

The Realization of the Trade’s Long-Term Impact

As Durant settled into life with the Warriors, he came to the realization that the trade would have long-term implications, not just for his career but also for his legacy. The championships he won in Golden State would always be tainted by the narrative that he had joined a stacked team to win, rather than earning those titles on his own. For a player of Durant’s stature, this was a bitter pill to swallow. He wanted to be remembered for his greatness, but the Warriors’ success overshadowed his individual achievements.

Durant’s time in Golden State was marked by professional success, but it was also marred by personal struggles. His desire for independence and leadership clashed with the Warriors’ team-first mentality. Durant’s comments that “it didn’t make sense” were a reflection of his growing discomfort with the situation. He had won titles, but at what cost? The player who had once been seen as one of the most unstoppable forces in the league had now found himself in a situation where he was questioned and criticized by fans, the media, and even his peers.

 The Complexity of Durant’s Decision

In the end, Durant’s move to the Warriors and his eventual departure from the team in 2019 revealed the complex nature of his decision. What was intended as a pursuit of championships turned into a battle with identity, leadership, and public perception. Durant’s opposition to the trade was not based on a dislike of his teammates or the Warriors’ organization, but rather on the realization that the move didn’t align with his deeper values and desires as a player.

His reflection on the trade being senseless highlighted the internal conflict he faced throughout his tenure in Golden State. Although he would eventually go on to find success with the Brooklyn Nets, Durant’s time with the Warriors remains one of the most fascinating and complicated periods in recent NBA history.

In the end, Durant’s career will always be marked by his pursuit of greatness and his unyielding desire to define his legacy on his own terms. Whether or not the trade to the Warriors ultimately made sense in the grand scheme of his career, it is clear that Durant’s journey was one of self-discovery, growth, and the never-ending quest for a sense of personal fulfillment.