Kevin Durant is bound for the Hall of Fame whenever his storied career comes to a close, and he believes his jersey should hang in the rafters of two, perhaps even three different cities when all is said and done.
Speaking with Logan Murdock of The Ringer, Durant said he believes his jersey should be retired in Oklahoma City, where he won four scoring titles in nine seasons, in Golden State, where he won two NBA titles, and if he continues his current production for a few more years, in Brooklyn with the Nets as well.
“I can imagine me when I’m done, and I don’t think any one of these franchises would be like, ‘No, K, what you did here is not a part of our history,’” Durant told Murdock. “I’m going to be a Hall of Famer when I’m done, one of the greatest to ever play. If you don’t want me to be a part of your program when I’m done playing, then that’s personal.
“OKC has to retire my jersey. It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. The same with Golden State. I’m still doing what I’m doing here in Brooklyn, but if I continue on what I’m doing four or five years, then I’ll feel the same way about this program. I better have a home. Because I feel like I am basketball. I breathe it. This is my DNA.”
Durant’s exit from Oklahoma City was received with great hostility among Thunder fans, as Durant signed on with the Warriors after OKC came one win away from bouncing Golden State in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. He then played just three seasons in Golden State, but won two titles and was injured in his final season, when the Warriors lost in the Finals to the Raptors. But Durant knows his superstar level that he has performed at with all three teams, and believes that will be recognized whenever he calls it a career.
“If let’s say Michael Jordan and LeBron James had to pick and we were playing a five-on-five game, they’re picking me,” Durant said. “I’m going to be a part of that 10 that’s playing in that game. That’s how I feel.”
Durant admitted that he thinks about those post-retirement accolades that will likely be coming his way, though some Thunder, or even Warriors fans, may disagree that his number should hang in their arenas.
“From the Hall of Fame speeches to jersey retirements, to watching my teammates’ kids grow into the league and hopefully mine one day. I look at all of that s--t,” Durant said. “What I’ll be doing when I’m done playing the game, because this is what my life is.”
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