Kevin Durant to sign with the Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant has made a decision – he's taking his talents to the Bay Area.
The NBA superstar announced on The Players' Tribune that he's leaving the Oklahoma City Warriors and signing with the Golden State Warriors.
"It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career," Durant wrote.
Related: Stephen A. Smith rips Kevin Durant as 'incredibly weak'
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, it's a two-year deal:
According to ESPN's Ethan Strauss, the inclusion of former Sixers star and 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala had a powerful impact on Durant's decision to sign with Golden State. Iguodala reportedly gave "an incredible pitch" at the Durant meeting, and referenced the time the pair spent as teammates during the 2012 Olympics.
Iguodala also has some words for "haters" of Durant's decision on Twitter Monday following the announcement:
Sixers center Joel Embiid also addressed critics of Durant's move:
According to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant called Thunder GM Sam Presti and told him personally of his decision to leave Oklahoma City and join Golden State, which reportedly sold him on winning multiple NBA titles together and easing the load placed upon Stephen Curry.
Durant's decision has been the most highly anticipated move of the summer. The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champion led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, and to the Western Conference finals in four of the past six years - and he's only 27. He recovered from a broken bone in his right foot that cost him much of last season to post one of the best years of his career.
It's the third time Durant's byline has appeared on The Players' Tribune. He was issued a photographer's press credential for Super Bowl 50 and published a story documenting his trip. Before that, he wrote an essay on "trying to be in the moment."
In addition to Oklahoma City, the Boston Celtics had hoped to sign the highly coveted free agent. The team even went so far as to recruit Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in an attempt to woo Durant.
Brady's involvement caused at least one news outlet, CBS Sports, to jump the gun and prematurely announce that Durant was signing with the Boston Celtics. According to Awful Announcing, the network posted a video on Yahoo.com titled "Durant's Decision: KD will join Horford on the Celtics" along with the following description:
Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world and has decided to join Al Horford in Boston. Zach Harper joins Ryan Bass to discuss whether KD's decision immediately makes the Celtics championship contenders.
Here's how Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com staffers are responding to Durant's move: