Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue led his team to the biggest comeback in NBA history less than one month ago when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
The Warriors have reloaded their roster since their Game 7 heartbreak, signing star forward Kevin Durant this offseason to a two-year, $54.3 million contract. Lue, for one, doesn't see the commotion with Durant joining the Warriors.
"I don’t understand it. I like KD. I support him in whatever he wants to do," Lue said to the Akron Beacon Journal.
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently spoke on his opposition of Durant leaving the small market of Oklahoma City for the Bay Area and the Warriors.
"In the case of Kevin Durant, I absolutely respect his decision, once he becomes a free agent, to make a choice that's available to him. In this case he operated 100 percent within the way of the system, and same with Golden State.
"I don't think it's good for the league, just to be really clear," Silver said.
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Golden State Warriors
Lue brings a different perspective to the table as both a player and coach that has dealt with free agency. In the case of Durant, Lue completely understands his decision.
"People get mad about what he did, but to me, I’ve been a player and I’ve been a coach. When you’re free, that means you’re free. You can do what you want to do. He opted to go to Golden State. That’s his choice," Lue said on Durant.
He also points to another instance with players where the outside world is silent.
"They don’t say anything or get mad when guys get cut or they trade guys. Nothing is said about that. But as soon as a guy picks a team he wants to go to, it’s a big deal."
Durant comes to the Warriors after making seven straight NBA All-Star teams and was named the 2013-14 NBA MVP. As one of the top scoring threats in all of basketball, Durant has led the NBA in scoring four times.
For his career, Durant is averaging 27.4 points, which leads the NBA among all active players, and 7.0 rebounds per game.