Kevin Durant's Third NBA Title Certain, Free Agency Doesn't Matter, Green Says

Kevin Durant is almost certain to be the most sought-after player in the NBA when he enters free agency in the summer with every team that has the cap space available likely to make an approach to the small forward. He has proved himself to be one of the best if not the best player in the league in the last two years.

The Warriors forward won the NBA Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018 after he played a key role in helping them beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. He also took home the All-Star MVP in 2019 and is considered amongst the greatest players of this generation, probably only behind LeBron James.

Durant signed a short-term deal with the Warriors when he entered free agency in 2018 as he was keen to have control over his future. He has not indicated whether he will remain with the reigning back-to-back champions or look for pastures new when he becomes a free agent in the summer.

The small forward revealed he was looking to make money and enjoy playing basketball, both of which will be available to him in the Bay Area. The Warriors can offer him the biggest deal – a five-year contract worth $221 million – and when it comes to enjoying the game – they are the dominant force in the NBA at the moment.

Draymond Green addressed his teammate’s free agency recently and admitted that nobody is certain if he will stay or go in the summer. But the power forward and his teammates do not seem to be concerned about it at the moment.

The Warriors are only focused on the current campaign and Green is certain that whether he stays or goes in the summer, Durant will be a three-time NBA champion by the end of the season. Steve Kerr’s team were the overwhelming favorites to claim their third straight NBA championship and on Saturday booked their place in the playoffs.

"He’s part of it right now,” Draymond told The Athletic's Sam Amick. “Whatever happens this summer happens. Whatever the hell he does, he does. If he goes, he goes. If he stays, he stays. But while he’s here, we’re going to win another championship. It’s just that simple. Nothing else matters.”

The Warriors, however, were not dominant in the regular season during this campaign and were currently battling the Denver Nuggets for the top spot in the Western Conference. The two teams have an identical 47-22 record with 13 games to play in the regular season.

Durant missed two games with an ankle injury – both of which the Warriors won – and returned on Monday for the game against the San Antonio Spurs. Coach Kerr’s team lost 111-105 to the fifth-placed Western Conference team.