Golden State Warriors: 4 worst things from the Warriors season

2. Kevin Durant’s departure to the Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant’s decision to leave the Golden State Warriors as a free agent during the previous offseason greatly upset fans.

He first came on the team in 2016 and exploded with the Warriors. KD was a major part of their back-to-back championships from 2016-2018. Durant is a well-rounded player who fits in with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. He was dynamic on the court and his numbers with the Warriors were formidable. In the 2017 Finals, Durant was the highest scorer on the team in every game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

During that series, he averaged 35.4 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 55.5 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from 3-point range. Although his overall numbers that season were impressive as well, Durant proved himself to be a clutch player that the Warriors could count on in high-pressure moments. In the next season, he hit several career highs with the team including in assists and blocks.

With these statistics, Kevin Durant’s decision to leave left fans confused and angered. Since then, however, KD has been clear and upfront about his reasons to transfer to the Nets. At Nets Media Day, Durant stated that his reasons were personal and that he “felt like it was time for a change.” During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Durant elaborated on his feelings about the team, admitting that he felt like an outsider since the core players of the team were drafted in: “I’ll never be one of those guys.”

Kevin Durant’s interest in playing with Kyrie Irving on the Nets and his friction with Draymond Green were also factors that played into his decision. Although his reasoning is sound and respectable, his loss will still be felt by Warriors fans.