Kevin Durant and his move from Oklahoma City to Golden State remains one of the most debated free-agency decisions in NBA history.
While fans and analysts spent years speculating on motives ranging from championship chasing to locker-room friction, Durant himself offered a blunt breakdown of what pushed him toward the Bay.
In OKC, we had a lot of specialists dudes that played defense but couldnt score on their own, or dudes that could shoot but then couldnt guard that well, said Durant.
His explanation made it clear he felt boxed in as the primary creator, often facing swarming coverages with limited help.
He contrasted that with the high-octane Golden State system that appealed to his play style and long-term aspirations.
Golden State called me Im like, sh*t, theyre averaging 120 a game, he said. I wont have to worry bout a zone everytime I catch the ball, double teaming me I feel like we made the game better because you had to come with it from the 1st possession of the game or you were gonna get blown out.
Kevin Durant discusses leaving OKC for the Warriors:
In OKC, we had a lot of specialists dudes that played defense but couldnt score on their own, or dudes that could shoot but then couldnt guard that well
Golden State called me Im like, sh*t, theyre averaging 120 a pic.twitter.com/WWBATaJXV2
Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 17, 2025
Durant also pushed back on narratives that he diminished the leagues competitive balance. Instead, he claimed the move elevated the standard teams needed to reach in order to contend.
The remarks offer a rare window into Durants mindset at that pivotal career crossroads. For him, the leap to the Warriors was not about abandoning Oklahoma City, but about stepping into a system where spacing, versatility, and high-powered offense matched his skill set.
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