NBA: Key Reason For Durant Choosing To Leave Warriors, 2-Time MVP Explains

Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash formed a strong relationship with Kevin Durant during his three seasons with the Golden State Warriors after he was hired as a player development consultant one season prior to the small forward’s arrival.

Durant’s three seasons with the Warriors saw him make three straight NBA Finals, claim two titles and two NBA Finals MVP accolades. Despite his immense success he decided to leave the franchise in free agency earlier this summer and join the Brooklyn Nets.

Nash admits that he was surprised with Durant’s decision to leave after achieving the amount of success he did with the Warriors, but was not shocked with the forward’s decision, especially after understanding Durant more as a person during their time together on the training courts.

"I think I would have thought he would have had such a great experience there that he wouldn't want to leave," Nash said on the most recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, as quoted on Yahoo Sports. "That would be the surprise."

Nash worked one-on-one with Durant during his time with the Warriors and believes the main reason he left was his desire to find a new challenge. The two-time NBA MVP believes it was the same reasons he left Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 to look for something bigger and higher that will push his career to the next level.

“Kevin's a thoughtful -- I don't want to say complicated -- sophisticated, he's continually pushing himself and searching for whatever it is that's out there that's going to fulfill him and excite him," Nash said. "I think maybe that part of it was underestimated that he would leave in three years, because that's what led him there in the first place."

"He wanted something higher, bigger [when he left OKC for the Warriors]. He wanted to experience something different where he would be pushed in new ways, and it's kind of the same thing that's happening now."

Nash also dismissed claims that the main reason Durant left was due to his inability to change the perception that the Warriors will always be Stephen Curry’s team despite his contributions to their recent success. The Phoenix Suns legend admits that it could have been part of the reason but maintains that the main reason was Durant’s desire to find a new challenge.

"I think that plays a role [in him leaving], but I don't think it's everything for Kevin," Nash said. "I think it's probably overplayed by the media. I think in some ways, Kevin just wanted a change. ... I think him constantly seeking a new challenge and new opportunity and new experience; there are a lot of layers to him. I think he loves to explore."