Following his surprising exit in 2019, Kevin Durant didn’t exactly have kind things to say about the Warriors. There were reports of him feeling left out, alienated, and even disrespected by the team in the year leading up to his free agency and when he left, it almost felt as if both sides were more relieved than anything.
On the Warriors’ side of things, Durant’s decision no doubt hurt their chances to win the title moving forward. However, in a chat with Adrian Wojnarowski, Warriors GM Bob Meyers explained he had no ill feelings towards the two-time Finals MVP.
“The guy came to our team, was MVP of the Finals twice, two championships, three Finals. What do you want to happen? What do you expect out of a human being? What is the problem with that?
Everybody is so fast to look at what’s wrong with a team, and I was just so focused on — and still am — on what was right with all those things, even in losing. Even in the effort you make to win or lose, there are great experiences there…I liked the guy.
A lot of people…would say he shouldn’t have left or he shouldn’t have done this — everybody’s telling him how to live his life…just because you don’t understand doesn’t mean he’s confused.
Players are allowed to do whatever they want to do, whether it’s him or anybody else. In professional sports, you sign contracts, and when you’re free you get to do what you want to do. You can’t criticize a guy for that.”
Golden State’s Bob Myers on The Woj Pod: The NBA’s shutdown and restart, reshaping the Warriors roster, the job of running a franchise, KD, much more:
Spotify: https://t.co/o6McFOULVc
ESPN: https://t.co/VbFBq3d1B5
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 31, 2020
Meyers has always believed in the power of players to make their own decisions. After four years with the Warriors, and so much success, why shouldn’t Durant be allowed to move on?
He did just that and, unlike a lot of folk, Mr. Meyers doesn’t hold it against him.
