LeBron Texted Durant About Joining Lakers? Warriors Star Responds

Kevin Durant’s future with the Golden State Warriors has been the most discussed topic during the NBA offseason with speculation rife about whether he will remain with his current employers in the long-term or choose to move next summer.

The Warriors small forward re-signed with the reigning NBA champions after entering free agency earlier in the summer but only committed to a 1+1 deal, which will allow him to become a free agent again in 2019 when he will be able to move to a franchise of his choosing.

Durant has been heavily linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers and finally addressed rumors that LeBron James, the LA franchise’s high profile recruit this summer, had texted about joining him at the Staples Center earlier in the summer.

"Hell no," Durant said when asked if James did make a pitch, per Mark Medina of the Bay Area News Group, as quoted on the Bleacher Report. "That was all false. All false. 100 percent false. He didn't talk about none of that stuff."

Durant’s comments were in response to ESPN’s Stephen A Smith, who claimed earlier in the summer James had texted the Warriors star about joining him in Los Angeles. Despite the commentator’s statement coming before he re-signed with the Warriors, it is still a possibility when he enters free agency in 2019.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP made it clear the reason he signed a short-term deal was to have control over his future, but that has created plenty of uncertainty going into the new campaign. Durant’s future is going to be a constant topic of discussion throughout the entire 2018-19 season and it is unlikely to be addressed until next summer.

Apart from the Lakers, the New York Knicks have also been heavily linked with a move for the small forward with Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes suggesting they have a very good shot at luring Durant away from the Bay Area team. There are many that feel the 2018-19 season could be the small forward’s last at the Oracle Arena.

The 30-year-old is favorite to pick up his third straight title with the Warriors in 2019 – having played a key role in his first two years despite being criticized for joining Stephen Curry’s bandwagon. It remains to be seen if he will leave a winning team to go and build another franchise.

Durant has played in all three of the Warriors’ pre-season games thus far and their final two pre-season games coincidentally is against James’ Lakers. They face the LA franchise first on Wednesday night and take them on again Friday night before welcoming the Oklahoma City Thunder for their first regular season game at the Oracle Arena on Tuesday.