Since leaving Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant has adopted the Warriors’ renowned culture of arrogance. His on-court antics of cursing at mascots and getting into scuffles with opposing players did not happen nearly as frequently, prior to taking “the hardest road” during his offseason decision. Durant is establishing himself as a villain in today’s NBA and it’s mostly due to obvious reasons.
Durant went on the record to discuss his current mindset at this point of the NBA season.
“I’m just at peace with myself; I’m at peace with myself as a basketball player, most importantly. I think this move, and the criticism that comes with this move, has made me zero in on what’s the most important thing, and that’s just playing basketball, working out every day, getting better, enjoying every single day as a basketball player. It made me really appreciate that. It made me go back to that. When you listen to the nonsense, then you start to really let it take control of your thoughts, that’s (not good), you know what I’m saying? So I just got back to the game.”
The following day after Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Durant was asked a question about all of the blowouts in this year’s playoffs. He then delivered a quote that stirred some commotion in the media.
Kevin Durant on the amount of blowouts this postseason: “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.” pic.twitter.com/WaqGEt93k5
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) May 21, 2017
Durant commented further today on the NBA’s parity issue and it seems he let the noise get the better of him.
“Like I’m the reason why (expletive) Orlando couldn’t make the playoffs for five, six years in a row? Am I the reason that Brooklyn gave all their picks to Boston? Like, am I the reason that they’re not that good. I can’t play for every team, so the truth of the matter is I left one team. It’s one more team that you probably would’ve thought would’ve been a contender. One more team. I couldn’t have made the East better. I couldn’t have made everybody in the West better.”
Afterward, Durant explains how he’s a 28-year-old basketball player who’s finally at peace with himself, and how there’s a natural progression towards reaching that inner peace. He then gave his final thoughts on the matter.
“Certain stuff that used to bother you really doesn’t bother you anymore. It’s easier for me to kind of speak my mind, speak what I’m thinking because I now realize that I’m in control of my own destiny.”
It’s great that Durant has found peace in his life, it’s just ironic because he doesn’t come off as a peaceful person (anymore). Maybe it’s playing with a team that could make the Western Conference Finals without him, or maybe it’s the weather. Only he knows and only time will tell what his chapter has in store for us.
