Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr recently opened up about the free-agent departure of two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
The championship head coach had a rather interesting take on the reasoning behind Durant’s departure.
“My feeling was he started to get restless, like, ‘This is all there is? We won the title last year, we’re rolling again this year, but whatever it is I’m searching for, I’m still not finding it,’” Kerr told Bill Simmons on The Book of Basketball podcast (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area).
For Kerr, things changed as it relates to Durant following his first title with the team. He withdrew from teammates and the coaching staff. Stopped asking questions and remained pretty much to his self.
Kerr credits that to Durant feeling under appreciated.
“We had a really good thing and then you could just feel it start to slip,” Kerr continues. “And I don’t know if it was what you mentioned — Kevin felt like he was now the King of the NBA, but nobody was recognizing him for that. He dominated LeBron in those Finals.”
Some point to Durant’s early-season spat with Draymond Green last year as one of the primary reasons he left for the Brooklyn Nets. Others point to Golden State’s handling of KD’s injury during The Finals that ultimately led to a torn Achilles.
However, those are false narratives. While Durant did say that the drama with Green played a minor role in him leaving, the MVP refused to blame his former team for the Achilles injury.
At the very least, this might clarify things as it relates to why Durant bolted such a good thing. He was simply restless. It’s likely what led o Durant’s departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first place. That’s how Kerr sees it.