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Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant to sign with Golden State Warriors

Sport360 staff

21:55 04/07/2016

Durant, the most coveted NBA free agent, announced his move on the Players’ Tribune website after what he described as the “most challenging few weeks in my professional life.”

The 27-year-old forward said he was joining the Warriors to enhance his growth as a player and a person.

“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 wrote.

“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.

“With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.”

The capture of Durant, a seven-time NBA All Star and the NBA’s MVP in 2014, is a huge boost for Golden State as they build towards next season.

The Warriors are still licking their wounds after slumping to a 4-3 NBA finals defeat to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers last month.

The 6ft 9in (2.06-meter) Durant took the Thunder to the brink of victory against Golden State in the Western Conference finals last season, inspiring his team to a 3-1 series lead before the Warriors fought back to win 4-3.

Durant had held talks with no fewer than six teams over the past week, including his current club Oklahoma City, the Warriors, the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Clippers, the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.

However the prospect of joining up with the Warriors and their record-breaking roster proved irresistible for Durant, who has career averages of 27.4 points and seven rebounds per game.

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