Kevin Durant has two years left on his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, as his 5-year, $89 million deal expires at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season.
The reigning NBA MVP spoke about that very situation on Tuesday, but not before he applauded LeBron James for announcing his return to Cleveland via a letter on Sports Illustrated’s website.
“I thought it was well-thought-out. It was classy,” Durant said after a USA training camp session, via ESPN.com. “It was a great move to do it as a letter.”
Durant went on, saying that he liked the fact that James thought about the people who live in/near his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
“It’s funny seeing guys think about more than just basketball for once,” Durant said. “He thought about the city where he comes from, about Northeast Ohio and how he can affect so many of the kids just being there playing basketball. I love that.”
Durant grew up in Prince George’s County, Md., a small county outside of Washington, D.C. The 25-year-old said he hasn’t thought about his looming decision in free agency, or about returning to his hometown to play with the Washington Wizards.
“I’m going to do what’s best for me,” Durant said. “It’s hard to talk about that right now when I’ve got two years left in Oklahoma City. I’m just going to focus on that.”
Durant recalls his younger days rooting for the Bullets — who became the Wizards in 1997 — but says that he loves playing in Oklahoma City, as well.
“I grew up watching the Bullets/Wizards,” Durant said. “I grew up taking the train to that arena, all the time, to watch Georgetown, the Bullets, the Washington Mystics. That whole city is a part of me. It’s in my blood. I love going back home, seeing my family and playing there, but I love Oklahoma City too.”
