If you are interested in how good Kevin Durant will be in his contract year next season, based on his recent remarks, it seems it is safe to say he will play very well. Durant told Thunder beat writer Anthony Slater about the outcome of the Thunder’s season, and his high anticipation for next season,
“I’m definitely pissed. I can’t wait for the first game (next season).”
He clearly feels that the Thunder should have been in the playoffs, and he will make sure the Thunder are definitely in there next year. The Thunder missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009 after the Pelicans clinched the final spot by beating the Spurs.
Durant fell victim to injury earlier in the season, and it cut his ended this time on the court this year. He is anticipating the Thunder’s first game next season, and he is extremely excited about being able to play. With KD, the Thunder will likely make the playoffs just like they did for the past five seasons before this one.
Durant has had a tough season, having had three surgeries and only playing 27 games. On this topic, ESPN’s Royce Young reports Durant saying,
“It’s definitely been the toughest year I’ve ever had playing basketball, but just try to look forward to and stay positive with it all and help my guys out. Every day I tell myself we’re going to look back on this and smile and laugh at it and recognize this is just an obstacle we had to climb over to get to where we want to get to.”
Durant will stay positive and do everything he can to get back to playing form for next season. He recognizes that his career is challenging him, and he just needs to push through the challenge and keep fighting.
This season was a complete loss for the Thunder due to the injuries of Durant, along with Serge Ibaka who was also sidelined. Russell Westbrook would only be able to carry the Thunder so far, and he came close to getting them in the playoffs, but he just couldn’t. Kevin Durant said he was proud of how Russell played all season, saying via Anthony Slater’s Twitter page,
Kevin Durant on Russell Westbrook’s amazing season: pic.twitter.com/ziEEG6TZPp
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 16, 2015
He is clearly proud of his teammate’s season, and he had a lot of fun watching Russell have an outstanding season. He thinks he did an amazing job considering the circumstances. Russell did a great job playing as the lone superstar for his team, and deserves a lot of credit for that.
On the Thunder’s midseason aquisitions of Kyle Singler and Enes Kanter, Anthony Slayer’s twitter reports him saying,
“I was excited when we got them. But it was bittersweet…because I couldn’t play.”
Aquiring these two players were solid moves for the Thunder, but sadly Durant never got to play with them. Kyle Singler was in a contract year, but he expressed interest in returning to the Thunder after the game last night. Enes Kanter’s contract may end this season but it’s almost a given that he will re-sign. So, luckily for Kevin, it looks as though he will get to play with both Enes and Kyle.
Durant was asked about the playoffs, more specifically he was asked if he would watch them, and he quickly fired back,
“Hell no.”
Kevin Durant’s words were echoed by his teammate Russell Westbrook, who when asked the same question said,
“I don’t ever watch other teams.”
The Thunder’s young superstars clearly do not want to watch the playoffs, and seem not to care. Why should they watch them, anyways? This is not the only thing that KD and Russell agreed on, as they both said they want Scott Brooks back to coach the Thunder, and they do not want him fired. Kevin Durant said,
“He rallied us, made sure we were all emotionally stable.”
He clearly would like to have Scott back next season. Scott is just the second coach Durant has ever had in the NBA. Russell also said he wants Scott Brooks back, saying,
“As a coach and as a friend, I think he does a great job.”
The Thunder were clearly not happy after not being knocked out of the playoffs, but they should not worry. The future is extremely bright for the Thunder, who have a solid team built around Durant, Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka. With Durant and Ibaka returning next season, the team can look to be a title contenders. The Thunder will definitely make the playoffs, if healthy, with the return of their star players, and they will be a lot happier around this time next season.
