Kevin Durant Thinks LeBron Joining The Lakers ‘Is The Perfect Next Step’


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LeBron James signing a four-year max deal with the Lakers caused a seismic shift in the NBA, as the East’s most dominant player over the past decade was heading West for the first time in his career.

While that leaves a void in the East — likely to be filled by the Celtics or possibly the Raptors with a healthy Kawhi Leonard — it doesn’t change much at the top of the West for now. That’s an odd statement given the best player in the world has just landed in the conference, but James in L.A., with the current cast around him, doesn’t seem like a threat to the top spot held by the Warriors yet.

That might be why Warriors star Kevin Durant seems so excited about James’ decision to head to Los Angeles. Durant spoke with ESPN’s Marc J. Spears on Wednesday about the biggest move of free agency, which Durant raved about as a “perfect move” for LeBron.

“I loved it. I absolutely loved it,” Durant says. “I thought it was the perfect decision, perfect move. He did everything you’re supposed to do in Cleveland. I think this is the perfect next step for him. He’s kind of breaking down the barriers of what an NBA superstar is supposed to be. You feel like you’re supposed to play it out in one spot, and I think he did a good job of giving you different chapters and it’s going to make his book even more interesting when it’s done.”

Durant’s statement about LeBron helping break down barriers for what a superstar’s career is supposed to look like is especially interesting given Durant’s career and joining the Warriors. Durant has followed a similar path as LeBron, playing nearly a decade in one place before moving on to a superteam to collect his first rings. The question is whether KD will continue on LeBron’s path and look to add another chapter to his book, as he might say, soon and leave Golden State as he continues to sign short-term deals with the Warriors rather than lock up a long-term contract.

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