Kevin Durant Will Join Steph Curry At The Golden State Warriors (And Become The Highest Paid Player In The NBA)

The curse is lifted. Kevin Durant is heading to the best team in the NBA.

The Golden State Warriors couldn’t stick the landing on their record-breaking season and collect the 2016 championship ring, but they’re claiming another trophy that’s perhaps even more desirable.

Kevin Durant has published an essay to The Players Tribune titled “My Next Chapter”, in which he revealed his plan to move from the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was named the NBA’s MVP of 2014, to Oakland’s Golden State Warriors.

He’ll join 2015 and 2016’s MVP Steph Curry.

“The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction,” Durant writes.

“But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth.”

In an effort to head off critics, Durant adds, “It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career.”

His expected $US54.3 million contract (that’s a cool $AUD72.22 million) over two years probably helped him make the final call. This would make him the highest player in the league… should the deal be given the go ahead. (He can’t sign before July 7, which is when the league-wide moratorium on trades is lifted.)

(Surprisingly, this will make the invaluable Steph Curry only the fourth highest paid player on the Warriors, after Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.)

To make room for Durant within their salary cap, the Warriors are shipping off Aussie Andrew Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks.

The stat wizards at FiveThirtyEight don’t reckon the Warriors can top their 73-win record from the 2015/16 season, even with Durant now on board.

But at least rapper Lil B has ended his years-long feud with Durant, on account of his defection to Cali.

And peace stretches out across the land!

Photo: Nike.