Kevin Durant publicly responded an NBA journalist for bringing up his time with the Golden State Warriors. After joining the Warriors in 2016 and helping the franchise win back-to-back NBA championships, Durant has not seen much success since leaving the team after the 2018-2019 season.
Since then, Durant has played for the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns and is now set to join the Houston Rockets for the 2025-26 season.
When Durant’s trade to the Rockets was announced, Logan Murdock of The Ringer wrote an article summarizing the NBA star’s career since leaving the Warriors. However, his opinion on Durant’s time with the Warriors forced the two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP to respond on social media.
Why Did Kevin Durant Leave the Golden State Warriors?
After losing to the Warriors in the 2015-2016 playoffs, Durant stunned the NBA world by deciding to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to join Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Golden State. Since the Warriors had already made two Finals appearances and even won a title before Durant joined them, his decision to leave the Thunder and join the Warriors was significantly criticized.
To complicate matters, Durant left the Warriors for a variety of reasons, many of which are still murky to the public. When Murdock’s article implied that both Green’s attitude as well as Steve Kerr’s coaching style and principles played a huge role in Durant’s decision to leave the Warriors, the NBA star made a post on X, attacking Murdock for revisiting the same narrative in an attempt to keep his career alive.
“Durant’s exit from the Bay Area arguably had more to do with his issues with Steve Kerr than any shouting match with Green,” Murdock reported. “… The two have since reconciled, but league sources identify Kerr as among the reasons Durant opted not to return to Golden State at the trade deadline.”
Murdock then connected his past qualms with his more recent issues in Brooklyn and Phoenix: “Durant had similar critiques of Nash’s concepts, and the coach was later fired during Durant’s last season. And this past season, cameras routinely caught him in verbal spars with Suns coach Mike Budenholzer.”
However, Durant, never one to hold back on social media, did not hesitate to speak his mind on the report.
“We still on this??? Obvious opportunity for Logan Murdock to gain even more attention and try too revive his career by using my name and the Warriors. The audience is SICK AND TIRED of the same bulls*** narrative. Be better my man.”
We still on this??? Obvious opportunity for Logan Murdock to gain even more attention and try too revive his career by using my name and the Warriors. The audience is SICK AND TIRED of the same bullshit narrative. Be better my man
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 24, 2025
When a star decides to start a new chapter of his accomplished career, it’s common to look back at what got us into this situation. However, Murdock’s words were not taken well by Durant, who spoke for NBA fans and claimed that they were sick of the narratives that have been established about his time with the Warriors.
While Durant might not be in the best position to speak for fans worldwide, there is no doubt that he is “sick and tired” of the same narratives constantly reminding him about his decision to join (and leave) the Warriors. Durant may have left for several reasons, one of which is likely wanting to create his own legacy. However, his shortcomings since leaving the team have loomed over him for half a decade.
Now, in Houston, Durant has a fresh opportunity. The Rockets have a young, talented core with defensive upside, but their first-round loss to Golden State this spring exposed their need for a proven scorer. That’s where Durant fits in.
