Free-agent Kevin Durant announced on Monday that he is leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder and signing with the Golden State Warriors.
The decision was announced in a post on The Players’ Tribune website. Durant will sign a two-year, $54.3 million contract with the Warriors, according to ESPN. The deal will have a player option after the first year.
"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 on The Players’ Tribune.
He said in the same post the move was also an effort to seek an evolution within himself. Durant said it involved "moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth."
Then he told readers he was moving on with the Golden State Warriors.
Durant had played for the Thunder for his entire career. He averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and five assists last season. In his career he has averaged 27.4 points, seven rebounds, and 3.7 assists, made seven All-Star teams and won MVP in 2014.
The move shocked the NBA world and many players who were surprised by the move took to Twitter to react to the move.
The Warriors won 73 games last season, which is a NBA regular-season record and led the league in scoring, but failed to defend their title as they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.