The Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night to take a 2-1 series lead in their opening-round playoff matchup. Yet even though Billy Donovan’s team is a serious threat to win the title this year, many are still speculating where Kevin Durant will be once next season begins.
It was previously reported that Durant had narrowed his free agency choices to two teams, the Thunder and Washington Wizards. Durant gave Washington fans hope when he spoke openly about how returning home might appeal to him, too. Then, Washington went and hired Durant’s ex-coach Scott Brooks on Thursday, which just further fueled speculation that he would be headed back to play for his hometown team.
However, it’s not quite that simple for the Wizards. KD wasn’t only displeased by the tenor of his visit to Washington in November, but now The Vertical’s Chris Mannix is reporting that Durant will not sign with the Wizards. Why? Because he does not want to deal with the distractions of playing at home.
Durant isn’t bound for Washington, friends say, because … it’s Washington, it’s home, and, like so many athletes, Durant isn’t all that keen on returning to play in the city in which he grew up. Friends, family – some real, some claiming to be – all come out of the woodwork in those situations, and Durant, who has tightened his inner circle considerably in recent years, isn’t interested in dealing with them. His lone trip to D.C. this season was stressful, league sources told The Vertical, reinforcing to friends that wherever Durant signs next summer, Washington won’t be it.
That sounds pretty definitive, and Durant’s attitude in recent years would seem to echo that sentiment. The former MVP has become noticeably less friendly with the media and has been playing with a chip on his shoulder trying to prove that he is worthy of being considered as the best player in the world. If he were to go back to Washington, not only would Durant have to deal with the pressure of trying to prove himself as an all-time great player, but he would also be dealing with the additional weight on his shoulders of trying to win a title for the city he grew up in.
Mannix names Golden State, San Antonio, and Boston as potential contenders to lure the superstar away from Oklahoma City this offseason, but as of right now, it would appear the Wizards are out of the race.
(Via The Vertical)
