Kevin Durant finally spoke Wednesday night, and needless to say, he wasn’t happy with the media and the Knicks free-agency talk surrounding him.
“I have nothing to do with the Knicks,” Durant said after scoring 23 points in the Warriors’ 141-102 blowout win over the visiting Spurs Wednesday night. “I don’t know who traded [Kristaps] Porzingis. It got nothing to do with me. I’m trying to play basketball. Y’all come here every day asking me about free agency, ask my teammates, my coaches, rile up the fans about it.
“Let us play basketball. That’s all I’m saying.”
During the interview, Durant also said it’s not his job to talk about his free-agency situation.
“It’s the conversation you all [the media] have,” he said. “I don’t think about that type of stuff. It’s your job.”
The Warriors star hadn’t spoken to the media since the Knicks traded Porzingis to the Mavericks last week, freeing up enough cap space to sign two free agents to max contracts this summer.
Durant said the rumors he’s leaving for New York “makes it seem like it’s coming from me’’ and that “it’s unnecessary.’’
“Let us play basketball,’’ Durant said in his 2½-minute rant. “Now that I’m not talking to you all, it’s a problem with me. Grow up. Grow up. I come here to work every day and cause no problems. I play the right way. I try to play the right way, try to be the best player I can be.
“What’s the problem? What am I doing to you all? Why do I have to talk to you. Will it help me do my job better … I don’t think about that kind of stuff. That’s your job.”
Durant did not talk to the media at Golden State’s shootaround Wednesday before the game. According to The Athletic, Warriors PR officials attempted to get Durant to answer questions from the media during practice Tuesday, but he refused.
The NBA trade deadline arrives Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern.