Kevin Durant leaning towards signing with D-League champs Sioux Falls Skyforce: “My best chance to win a title” SportsPickle Follow Jun 1, 2016 · 2 min read

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant will be an unrestricted free agent in July, and while the Thunder star says he hasn’t completely made up his mind on where he’ll play next, he does say that he is leaning strongly towards signing with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League.

“Obviously, the Skyforce are the reigning D-League champs and I really think I could put up some good numbers in that league and help them go back-to-back,” said the seven-time NBA All-Star. “If you want to be the best, you have to join the best. Or at least the relative best.”

Durant averaged 28.2 points per game this past season and would likely put up close to 50 per game in the D-League. But he says he would be willing to defer to the Skyforce’s established stars to win a ring, “assuming they give out rings down there. I don’t really know.”

“I wouldn’t just come into a championship team and expect to take shots away from established Skyforce centerpieces like Jarnell Stokes, Rodney McGruder, Keith Benson and Greg Whittington,” he said. “I’d just want to play my role. They have so many good role players in Sioux Falls already: Bubu Palo and Jabril Trawick chief among them, of course. That’s why they’re a title-winning team.”

After losing a three games to one lead over the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the conference finals, including blowing Game 6 in the final minutes, Durant says he is more motivated than ever to win a championship.

“I’ve been in the pros for nine years now. I’m getting close to 30. It’s time to win,” said Durant. “We were close this year, but I feel like we blew our chance. And going to a team like my hometown Wizards would be taking a big step back. Money doesn’t matter. I want a trophy.”

Durant was then told that D-League players make between $13,000 and $25,000 a season.

“Oh, damn. Wow. That wouldn’t cover my monthly car payments,” he said. “Yeah, I’m really looking forward to coming back to Oklahoma City. I think we’re building something great here.”