Durant Wants Jersey Retired in Oklahoma City
Kevin Durant has made his strongest remarks yet about free agency at the end of the 2016 season, going as far as saying he wanted to have his jersey retired by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He said the he loved it in Oklahoma City, loved his teammates, loved the city and does not think about anywhere else. He added that he is the type of player and person who would love to stay in one place and play with one team his entire career.
He mentioned names such as Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, all players who are future Hall of Famers who have played for the same team their entire careers.
However, before committing 100% to his future in Oklahoma City, Durant said you never know what the future will bring and how teams might feel about you as a player after a period of time.
He then added that he loved it in Oklahoma City and would love to see his jersey retired up in the rafters at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
On Tuesday, Durant had bone graft foot surgery, which officially ruled him out for the remainder of the 2014-15 regular and postseason. That leaves just one season more before he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2016.
Durant has not liked to talk much about his playing future, but amidst increased speculation he is thinking about returning to where he grew up, he deflected all questions about Washington, D.C. when Oklahoma City played the Wizards in the nation’s capital in January.
Oklahoma City will be in the driver’s seat when it comes to re-signing Durant in 2016. The team can offer the superstar both more money and an extra year than any other NBA team because of possessing his Bird rights.
In 2007, the franchise drafted Durant when they were still the Seattle Supersonics. The former scorer machine for the Texas Longhorns has played eight seasons with the Thunder organization, wining four NBA scoring titles and one MVP award. He has appeared in three of the last four Western Conference final series and in the 2012 NBA Finals.
Durant, who is just 26, played on just 27 games during this season, averaging over 25.4 points, 6.6 boards and 4 assists per game.
His teammates, behind the great play of guard Russell Westbrook are battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. As of Thursday morning, the Thunder was in eighth place in the West, the last playoff spot available. However, the Thunder is just 1 ½ games ahead of the ninth place New Orleans Pelicans. The Thunder has 7 games remaining in the regular season, while the Pelicans have eight.
