Kevin Durant Will Leave Warriors, But Not Join LeBron: Smith Explains Why

Kevin Durant and his future with the Golden State Warriors is a topic that is going to be spoken about until he makes a decision next summer. The Warriors small forward is almost certain to enter free agency again in 2019 after only agreeing to a short-term 1+1 deal with the Bay Area team. He will be eligible for a max contract next summer so he is unlikely to accept his player option.

Durant revealed recently that money was on his mind especially since many players not as accomplished as him are earning more. If he wants to earn the maximum possible, it will be with the Warriors as they can offer him a five-year $221 million deal while any other franchise can only offer him a four-year $164 million deal.

However, ESPN’s Stephen A Smith believes the two-time NBA Finals MVP will leave the Warriors as he is concerned about his legacy more than the amount of money he will earn. As that is the only reason that someone will want to leave a team that is almost certain of winning their third straight NBA title.

“Believe it or not, with this guy, it really comes down to happiness,” Smith told “First Take”, as quoted by the Express. “In some instances, what’s the best way to win? He’s already in that. In other situations, it’s about the money — we know he’s going to get the max wherever he goes.”

“There’s $50million more on the table that the Golden State Warriors can give him that no-one else can give him but he’s contemplating where he goes from here. I think KD, his legacy, has reached a point where it really matters to him in this regard. He’s about to be a three-time champion and quite possibly a three-time Finals MVP when this season is over,” he added.

Durant was criticized for joining Stephen Curry’s bandwagon when he quit the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Warriors in 2016. He has held his own by powering them to two titles while winning the finals MVP award on both occasions.

However, the Warriors will always be Curry’s team and Smith feels that Durant will not want to join another team and be the “right-hand man." This rules out a potential union with LeBron James at the Los Angeles Lakers, who are said to be keen to sign the forward.

The New York Knicks have also been heavily linked with a move for Durant and it could be a franchise where he will have star status similar to Curry with the Warriors and James with the Lakers.

“You’re playing with the best-shooting backcourt of our lifetime, the greatest shooter in our lifetime with Steph Curry,” Smith explained. “You love the brand basketball. And you’re still thinking about leaving, why?”

“There can only be one reason — you want your own show. You don’t want to be second fiddle to anybody any longer. You’ve tied LeBron James if you win the championship this year but still in Golden State you’ll never be bigger than Steph Curry because he was drafted, homegrown, they love him, he’s family,” he added. “He is the Derek Jeter of the NBA for the Warriors. If you’re KD, you might say you don’t care about it, but why else would you think about leaving?”