Kevin Durant refuted a report—which was later retracted—claiming that Russell Westbrook had been given assurances about KD re-signing with the OKC Thunder.
Durant says no such conversation ever took place.
Kevin Durant tells @TheVertical: I never promised Russell Westbrook I was staying in OKC. @ShamsCharania report: https://t.co/773gLxIwRZ
— The Vertical (@TheVertical) July 28, 2016
Durant had dinner with Russ and Nick Collison before announcing that he was joining the Golden State Warriors.
Per Yahoo:
“It’s false,” Durant said on Thursday. “I didn’t say that – words about me telling Russell or Nick that I would stay or leave never came out of my mouth. We met as teammates, but no promises came out of it. In this day and age, I can’t control anything people claim out there. Someone can go out and say something random right now, and people will believe it. […] I never told Russell or Nick [Collison], ‘All right, guys, I’m coming back to the Thunder’ – and then a week later, I decide not to. Never happened. I don’t operate like that. I heard people say that story, but it’s not the truth.”
In a quiet corner before USA Basketball’s practice at the United Center, Durant admitted he has heard – and refutes – the perception that he turned his back on Westbrook and his former Thunder teammates. “There were never promises given in a meeting before July,” he said. “I went through the process.”
The Warriors’ projected starting five includes Stephen Curry, (Klay) Thompson, Durant, (Draymond) Green and Zaza Pachulia – a seamless transition in Durant’s mind. […] “I’m not coming into a team where a guy is playing my position and we have try to fit in two guys playing the same position,” Durant said. “I’m not coming in trying to play the point guard, trying to play the shooting guard. I’m a small forward. The team didn’t have a small forward when I signed. Steph, Klay, Draymond, the bigs, we all play different positions. Whether it’s minutes, shots, opportunities, any good team will have players sacrificing. That’s the nature of the game. I’m not coming into a game saying that I need my 18 shots and I need to get to the line 12 times. I let the game flow naturally.”
