Kevin Durant's move from Oklahoma City to the Golden State Warriors remains one of the most controversial free-agent decisions in NBA history.
While fans and analysts have spent years speculating on motivations ranging from championship pursuits to locker room friction, Durant himself set the record straight on what drove him to the Bay Area.
“In Oklahoma City, we have a lot of specialists…some guys who are good at defense but can't score, or can shoot the ball but don't defend well,” Durant said.
His explanation makes it clear that as a primary creator, he felt trapped, often facing a deluge of coverage with limited help.
He contrasted that with the high-octane Golden State system that appealed to his style of play and long-term ambitions.
“The Golden State Warriors called me and I said, damn, they're averaging 120 points a game,” he said. “I don't have to worry about the zone, double-teaming me every time I catch the ball… I feel like we make the game better because you have to follow up from the first possession of the game or you're going to get eliminated.”
Kevin Durant discusses leaving Thunder for Warriors:
“In OKC, we have a lot of specialists…some guys can defend but can't score, or can shoot but don't defend well…
The Golden State Warriors called me and I was like, damn, they're averaging 120 points a game… pic.twitter.com/WWBATaJXV2
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 17, 2025
Durant also pushed back against suggestions that he has weakened the league's competitive balance. Instead, he claimed the move raised the bar for the team to compete.
The comments provide a rare window into Durant's mentality at a critical crossroads in his career. For him, the move to the Warriors wasn't about giving up on Oklahoma City, but about entering a system with the spacing, versatility and high-energy offense to match his skill set.
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