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Could Kevin Durant make like LeBron and head 'home'?

Kevin Durant's arrival in Golden State has the Warriors looking downright scary. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Roar Guru
23rd September, 2014
19

This July, an open letter published in Sports Illustrated confirmed the hopes and fears of many; LeBron James was returning to his spiritual home of Cleveland, Ohio to play for his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers.

Fresh off an NBA Finals defeat and likely headed straight for another Finals appearance, from the outset, James made clear that this decision was one for himself as well as one for the state of Ohio; this decision “bigger than basketball”.

His decision certainly caught the attention of Kevin Durant.

The NBA MVP said of LeBron’s decision mk. 2 “I thought it was well thought out. It was classy. It was a good move…

“It’s funny seeing guys think about more than just basketball for once. He thought about the city where he comes from and how he can affect so many of the kids just being there playing basketball. I love that.”

While Kevin Durant’s impending 2016 free agency has been on a lot of teams’ minds for a long time, there hasn’t been any serious thought of him leaving Oklahoma City. Until now.

Durant’s hometown Washington Wizards were irrelevant until last year, when the team from the nation’s capital had a breakout year.

With a strong core of talented youngsters and savvy veterans, Washington has become a lot more attractive a destination for star NBA free agents such as Paul Pierce, who signed in D.C. this off-season.

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The Wizards also currently have only about $20 million committed for 2016 – plenty of space to sign back some young stars as well as make a competitive bid for Durant.

By the time 2016 rolls around, Washington could be looking for one final piece to their championship puzzle, and will no doubt look first to their hometown hero. However, there is a lot of time and a lot of success to be had between now the 2016 off-season. Anything can happen.

However even the success of three MVPs, two Finals MVPs, five All-NBA first team nods, five All-NBA defensive team nods, and of course two championships was not enough to keep LeBron in Miami.

Sometimes, the lure of duty, emotion, and as LeBron put it, something “bigger than basketball” is too strong to forego for personal gain.

There is no doubt in 2016 Washington will have a go, and Kevin Durant will feel these feelings.

“I grew up watching the Bullets/Wizards. I grew up taking the train to that arena, all the time, to watch Georgetown, the Bullets, the Mystics. I love going back home, seeing my family and playing there.”

2016 is a fair way away and decisions are a long way away from being made, but as LeBron learnt, as much fun as winning championships is, there are some things that cannot be ignored.

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‘The Slim Reaper’ obviously has a great love for his home city of Washington, but this may be matched by his love of Oklahoma City and the Thunder organisation.

However, if they continue a fairly lackadaisical approach to winning, as they have this off-season, and hence miss out on a championship the next two years, Durant may be tempted to leave.

Let’s not rule out any possibilities here. After all, Durant is starting to sound like a young James more and more, saying, “That whole city is a part of me. It’s in my blood.”

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