The Knicks failed in free agency because the Knicks have failed for most of the past two decades.

While the Nets are currently in China for a pair of preseason games, Kevin Durant is back in New York, explaining why the Knicks could continually struggle to attract marquee free agents in the near future.

“I think a lot of fans look at the Knicks as a brand and expect these younger players who, in their lifetime, don’t remember the Knicks being good. I didn’t grow up with the Knicks,” Durant said Tuesday on the Ebro in the Morning Show on Hot 97. “I’ve seen the Knicks in the Finals, but kids coming up after me didn’t see that. So that whole brand of the Knicks to them is not as cool as, let’s say, the Golden State Warriors or even the Lakers or the Nets now.

“It’s like the cool thing right now is not the Knicks.”

Though the Knicks were considered one of Durant’s top options after Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, making room for two max free agents, the former MVP said he never truly considered signing with the Knicks, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2013.

“I thought about it, yeah, just a thought. But I didn’t really do any deep, full analysis on the Knicks,” Durant said. “They’re trying. They’re trying. It’s hard to get the best players to play here. It’s hard.”

Fans were calling out Durant on Twitter, claiming New York City would always be a Knicks town. One fan used five middle-finger emojis.

“I love that I got knicks and nets Twitter in a frenzy, make sure y’all come to the games and bring it full circle. I don’t wanna hear no bulls–t,” Durant responded.