Kevin Durant Rejects Warriors Deal and Opts for Free Agency

Published 06/27/2019, 10:23 AM EDT

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NBA team, Golden State Warriors were left dumbfounded when star forward Kevin Durant rejected a $31.5 million option for next season. Instead, the 30-year old has elected to become an unrestricted NBA free agent, according to ESPN.

Kevin Durant has the honour of being the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. In addition to that, he was also the 2014 NBA MVP. Sadly, the Washington DC-born player ruptured his right Achilles tendon during game five of the NBA Finals. The good news is, he has undergone a successful surgery to repair the injury.

Unfortunately, it will mean that Kevin Durant may miss the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. This is because, some rehabilitation will be necessary especially if he wants to regain his form.

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So far in his illustrious career, Kevin Durant averaged 26 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game for the Warriors this season. Then, when the playoffs came around, Durant hit an even higher gear, averaging 32.3 points and 7.7 rebounds a game.

via Imago

However, after lofty height, where is always a hard fall, and poor Kevin Durant learnt that the hard way. In other words, a right calf injury and nine missed games dented his hopes before the NBA Finals.

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However, now that he is a free agent, Kevin Durant will expect a number of NBA teams knocking. Thought-provokingly, terms of deals can agreed upon early, though the NBA rules state that new contracts cannot be penned until July 6.

Joining Durant in the free agent club is, Boston’s Kyrie Irving, Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard and his own teammate, Klay Thompson. Unfortunately for the Golden State Warriors, even Thompson was blighted with injury. However, in his case, the culprit was a torn left knee ligament, also sustained during the NBA Finals. In other words, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will be stuck on the same boat and miss a good chunk of the next season.

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Coming to the interested parties for Durant, the New York Knicks, will be among the early birds. In fact, Durant’s agent is reportedly in New York, trying to negotiate a deal.

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Written by:

Dhruv George

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Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.
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