Whenever a star player is nearing free agency everyone enjoys conjuring up arguments as to where they'll end up and why. One of the most common arguments you often hear is that superstars would relish the chance to "go home" and play in front of a hometown crowd. It happened with Steven Stamkos, it happened with DeMar DeRozan, it's happening with John Tavares and it also happened with Kevin Durant.
When Durant hit the free agency market last off-season the former MVP met with representatives from the Thunder, the Warriors, the Celtics, the Heat, the Clippers and the Spurs, but not with the Wizards. The decision was surprising, as many thought that being a native of Washington D.C., Durant would have at least shown some interest in playing in his hometown.
In a recent interview with the Washington Post, Durant detailed his decision to not meet with the Wizards.
“I don’t want to open up anything in the past, but I really just didn’t want to play at home. It was nothing about the fans. Being at home, I was so happy with that part of my life — playing at home, being in front of friends, hanging with friends and family every day. That was a part of my life that has come and gone.
“I was like, I’m trying to build a second part of my life as a man living in a different part of the country, just trying to do different things. I did everything I was supposed to do in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, I felt. Now it’s time to do something new. I didn’t want to come back. That’s just my thought process behind it. It had nothing to do with basketball, the fans, the city.”
An interesting perspective from an MVP-caliber player. Obviously every athlete has their own opinion on the matter, but perhaps this will at least give pause to anyone who automatically assumes that an athlete will look to go home as soon as the hit free agency.
