Kevin Durant expects for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Golden State Warriors organizations to retire his No. 35 jersey shortly after he calls it a profession.
Whereas Kevin Durant is likely one of the biggest basketball gamers in NBA historical past, his exits from each the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Golden State Warriors weren’t precisely clean.
Now in his third season with the Brooklyn Nets franchise, the previous No. 2 general select of Texas spent his first 9 NBA seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder franchise, serving to them get to the 2012 NBA Finals. He then bolted for the Bay Space in 2016 NBA free company, serving to the Warriors win their two most up-to-date titles throughout his three years there.
Although it might be completely silly for the Thunder and arguably the Warriors to not retire his No. 35, Durant hinted that it might be private if it didn’t occur in Logan Murdock’s characteristic for The Ringer.
Right here is how he feels in regards to the prospects of his two former groups probably retiring his humber.
“Each considered one of these locations I performed is my dwelling,” mentioned Durant to The Ringer. “I can think about me after I’m achieved, and I don’t assume any considered one of these franchises could be like, ‘No, Okay, what you probably did right here shouldn’t be part of our historical past.’ I’m going to be a Corridor of Famer after I’m achieved, one of many biggest to ever play. When you don’t need me to be part of your program after I’m achieved enjoying, then that’s private.”
Durant would provide this quote as nicely to essentially solidify his stance on the matter.
“OKC has to retire my jersey,” mentioned Durant. “It wouldn’t even be good for the sport of basketball in the event that they didn’t. The identical with Golden State. I’m nonetheless doing what I’m doing right here in Brooklyn, but when I proceed on what I’m doing 4 or 5 years, then I’ll really feel the identical manner about this program. I higher have a house. As a result of I really feel like I’m basketball. I breathe it. That is my DNA. I put within the time and respect and love for every considered one of these packages on and off the ground to get that sort of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s private.”
Relying on how nicely his run in Brooklyn goes, maybe the Nets must elevate his No. 7 jersey as nicely? Third time is a allure, proper?
Kevin Durant must have his Thunder and Warriors jerseys retired
The excellent news right here is Durant might be proper. Oklahoma Metropolis could be past moronic to not contemplating retiring Durant’s jersey the second he calls it a profession. What historical past have they got with out him, if we’re being completely trustworthy right here? He could not provide that loyalty element of 1 Nick Collison, however the NBA franchise Durant is greatest identified for taking part in for must be Oklahoma Metropolis.
So far as Golden State is worried, he did play an enormous half within the Warriors profitable their two most up-to-date titles. So for that purpose, the Warriors will finally elevate his No. 35 jersey as nicely. Nonetheless, it is not going to be instantly and it’ll not occur earlier than the Warriors retire Stephen Curry’s No. 30. Klay Thompson’s No. 11 and Draymond Inexperienced’s No. 23. So Durant must wait.
Even when it has at all times been messy from the NBA’s biggest wanderer, Durant is lucky that he has by no means performed for a really iconic franchise within the affiliation. Think about if he had fractured exits with the likes of organizations just like the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers and even the Philadelphia 76ers. In the end, historical past shall be variety to Durant’s legacy in his first two NBA stops.
As for if the Nets will finally retire his No. 7, he must get this staff to an NBA Finals first.
