Kevin Durant conducted his free agent meetings in the Hamptons last summer, and a number of teams got to come in and make their pitch: Oklahoma City, Boston, L.A. Clippers, San Antonio, Miami, and obviously Golden State.
The Knicks are not on that list. Despite all but having Phil Jackson grovel for a chance to make his pitch.
Why no Knicks? Stephan Bondy of the New York Daily News asked and got this answer:“Uh, because I didn’t want to....
“I didn’t want to lead anybody on,” Durant said. “I got a lot of friends in the league. I got calls throughout the summer. But I made the best decision I wanted to make, the best decision for me, I’m happy I’m here. All that stuff is in the past. Melo and I remain great friends. That’s what’s most important. We didn’t let that get in between the friendship.”
Durant was only going to meet with teams that had a chance to land him. Where the Knicks franchise is in their rebuilding efforts, and where Durant was in his career, were very different places. This is basically the same reason the Lakers didn’t get invited to the Hamptons, either.
Durant, obviously, chose to head to Golden State, where he is having his most efficient season ever on the best team in the NBA so far. You can see why he’s happy with his choice. And he doesn’t really care what everyone else thinks about it.