Kevin Durant understands the business side of the NBA and the attachment of
fans to their teams, but that doesn't mean he likes it.
"Some days I hate the circus of the NBA," Durant told The Wall Street Journal
for an article published Tuesday. "Some days I hate that the players let the
NBA business, the fame that comes with the business, alter their minds about
the game. Sometimes I don't like being around the executives and politics that
come with it. I hate that."
Durant signed a four-year, $164 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets after
his former team, the Golden State Warriors, lost the NBA Finals to the Toronto
Raptors. Durant ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the series and
will be out most, if not all, of the upcoming season.
In the interview, it was apparent Durant, who turns 31 later this month, was a
player in need of a fresh start.
He said he hasn't been back to the Bay Area since the NBA Finals -- adding,
"It didn't feel as great as it could have been" -- and had others pack up his
home for the move East. He also didn't spare words when it came to the
Oklahoma City Thunder, the franchise he spent nine seasons with and won a
league MVP award with before signing with the Warriors in 2015.
He hasn't forgotten fans burning his jerseys and calling him "all types of
crazy names" after his decision, or the way he was greeted upon his return
with the Warriors.
"Such a venomous toxic feeling when I walked into that arena," he told The
Wall Street Journal. "And just the organization, the trainers and equipment
managers, those dudes is pissed off at me? Ain't talking to me? I'm like, 'Yo,
this is where we going with this? Because I left a team and went to play with
another team?'
"I'll never be attached to that city again because of that. I eventually
wanted to come back to that city and be part of that community and
organization, but I don't trust nobody there."