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A few years ago, Kevin Durant had upended the league with his huge decision to join the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors already had a team full of superstars and Durant’s addition just made it worse for the other teams in the league. Interestingly enough, KD didn’t consider the Washington Wizards as a potential destination despite belonging to Washington originally. The former MVP was strictly against joining the Wizards for one huge reason.

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Durant was born and brought up in Washington D.C. For this reason, when he refused to be traded to the Wizards, his decision angered some fans.

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Kevin Durant rejected the Washington Wizards for one major reason

The Golden State Warriors have been one of the most dominant teams this past decade. With stars like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green on the roster, the team was destined to be great.

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The addition of Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016 shattered the competition in the league. Fans and analysts still consider this move to be one of the most controversial moments in NBA history.

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Interestingly enough, while Durant considered a lot of teams for his next destination, the Wizards were never an option. He never wanted to return back home after he had left to make his life better.

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READ MORE: Stephen Curry and Co. to Sign Bulls Veteran Who Once Said “F**k No” to Joining the Warriors: Proposed Trade

Durant once said, “I don’t want to open up anything in the past, but I really just didn’t want to play at home.”

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It was nothing about the fans,” KD clarified. “Being at home, I was so happy with that part of my life — playing at home, being in front of friends, hanging with friends and family every day. That was a part of my life that has come and gone.

While the Oklahoma City Thunder fans were naturally very angry with Durant for leaving, the Wizards fanbase also had reasons to dislike him.

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Durant and the Warriors dominated the league like no other

Although KD was brilliant for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he never came close to winning an NBA title. He joined the Golden State Warriors in order to achieve his dreams of winning an NBA title.

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In just 3 seasons with the Warriors, he won two NBA titles with two NBA Finals MVP awards. KD averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists in just 3 seasons with the team.

WATCH THIS STORY: Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard joins Stephen Curry and Trae young in a historic list after going off against the Warriors

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What is your favorite memory of Kevin Durant? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Written by

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Abhinava Ghosh

1,823 Articles

Abhinava Ghosh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with a wealth of experience covering the league. He has written over 1400 articles for EssentiallySports, showcasing his expertise in analyzing and reporting on NBA trade rumors, injury updates, and the ever-changing dynamics of the league. He had successfully covered the entire Kevin Durant trade saga at Brooklyn, which led to the basketball legend’s move to the Desert. He also kept our readers updated on the Brittney Griner situation throughout her exile in Russia. One of Abhinava's proudest moments came in 2015 when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title after 40 years. As a lifelong fan of the Dubs, Abhinava was thrilled to see his team reach the pinnacle of the sport, but he remained objective and professional in his reporting.

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Edited by

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Satagni Sikder

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