Why I Don't Hate Kevin Durant

“Sell out”, “Traitor”, “No heart”, a few of the phrases (and tweets) used to describe Kevin Durant after his July 4th announcement he’ll be joining the Golden State Warriors. The once most beloved, fan-liked player in the NBA is now one of the most hated. I’m here to say that, through all the jersey burning videos, hate fueled tweets, and frustration that 2k17 will bring me, I still love you, KD.

            My admiration for Kevin came long before I started watching basketball. I was at a friend’s house, Texas was playing Kansas, ironically in Oklahoma City. I was not in the slightest interested. Then I saw him, 6’9, and skinny as I was, pulling up from acres behind the three, finessing himself into the paint for an effortless 37 points. The game was the catalyst for my interest and basketball and also a showcase of what would make him NBA Rookie of the Year soon after.

Throughout the subsequent years, upon his entrance into the NBA, Durant’s humble, laid back demeanor, garnered him the reputation of the NBA’s sweetheart. His close relationship with his mother, whom he fervently spoke of to the point of tears in his viral MVP speech, also won him many hearts.

His shy first words uttered at his speech were, “I come from a small county outside Washington, DC called Prince Georges County”. Being from that exact area, me and probably everyone else’s love and admiration for KD grew with his allegiance to our city. Which made it worse when he didn’t choose to come here, but we’ll get to that later. After his first words, the tears started to roll for him and his mother, and millions watching. This was the definitive off-the- court moment in his career, serendipitous, he won the hearts of mothers, sons, and people who had previously never heard of the lanky baller from PG.

After nine years and one Finals appearance the wave of free agency took Kevin Durant. After losing a 3-1 lead to the Golden State Warriors and the talent clash of the, “shoot first”, Russell Westbrook, there was some speculation of him leaving OKC. Depending on who you’d ask, some would say a new deal with the team that made him, the Thunder, others would say, he knew he would fit perfectly in Boston, and last but not least men, women, and mothers all acrossPrince George’s county thought he would come home to the beloved, Washington Wizards.

When I say Kevin Durant went left…

On July 4th, it was reported then confirmed that Durant would join the Golden F*ckn State Warriors. Not the Clippers, not the Mavs, not the Spurs, the Golden D*** State Warriors. After the decision was made, the hate tweets started rolling in from fans, players, and analysts alike. I, like them, was pissed for a little as well but then I sat back and thought about it. I’m Kevin Durant, “I’ve been in the league for 9 years and never even smelled a championship. People love me, but why? Because I’m some skinny mama’s boy from DC? I’m not even from DC! I’m tired of being the nice guy. *que J.Cole Mr. Nice Watch. “I don’t care who’s mad, I don’t care who I hurt, I’m going to go out and get it with the best of them.”

So I’m not mad anymore Kev, it hurt, it did. But coming home to all your “friends” would have probably been the biggest distraction you’ve ever had to face. And to the OKC fans burning his Jersey’s, he’s not even from there, he was drafted by you all, meaning he basically had no choice.

Will he win it all? Will he fail? Will he regret his decision?

We’re not getting any younger, and the game’s not getting any easier, go out there and get it KD, be the bad guy, live with no regrets have haters, look where it got Lebron.