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Over the years, Kevin Durant has racked up his fair share of critics. It all began in 2016, when he made the decision to leave the OKC Thunder and join the Golden State Warriors in free agency.
Many blasted Kevin Durant for jumping to Golden State after they had just knocked his team out of the playoffs. Despite all the outside noise, the former MVP thought it was the best move for him and his career. The result of this decision was him winning a pair of championships and Finals MVPs.
Years after this decision, people still find ways to criticize KD. It most recently came this offseason, when he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Both him and Kyrie Irving signed there in 2019 in the hopes of building a superteam, but they ended up falling way short of expectations.
In a recent interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania, Durant opened up about the outside noise from fans and the media. He understands people are going to have opinions and tries to focus on himself.
"I don't throw my s**t at people. People want their own experience in the NBA. Their experience is their experience. I can't say anything. I let it be.
"When some fan says 'KD, I don't like how you did this.' I can't be upset at that. That's your view and how you look at the league. I just learned how to accept that, move forward and be the best me."
Kevin Durant no longer cares about leaving a legacy in the NBA
Given how much people discuss all-time rankings, legacies have become a huge thing in the NBA. Early in his career, Kevin Durant wanted to leave a lasting impression on the game he loves. That being said, his views on this have changed over the years.
"I don't care about legacy.
"I used to. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it's become too much of a thing now. It just becomes too much of a focus on other people."
Even though he may not want one, Kevin Durant is still going to leave a legacy. Between his run with the OKC Thunder and Golden State Warriors, he cemented himself as one of the greatest scorers ever.
It might not be on his radar, but KD could even add to his legacy this year. If he can lead the Phoenix Suns to a title, he will undoubtedly go down as one of the best players ever.
