Nash: Durant move to Warriors for ‘happiness, development’

Steve Nash came to the defense of Kevin Durant who has been heavily criticized for joining the Golden State Warriors via free agency.
 

Nash, the retired basketball superstar who is in his second year as a player development consultant for the Warriors, believes Durant’s move from Oklahoma City to the Warriors was a decision the 2014 NBA MVP had to make for the benefit of his career.

“I think It’s great. First of all, for Kevin personally, he made the move that was best for him. He saw an opportunity to win in Golden State,” said Nash during a meet and greet with the Philippine media at Sofitel Manila Wednesday morning.

The 42-year-old Nash, who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2013-14 season, also feels the Warriors’ culture that turned them from a laughingstock to champions brought about by the arrival of head coach Steve Kerr fits the kind of transformation Durant is searching for at this stage of his career.

“But I think, more importantly, knowing Kevin—he’s a friend of mine—I think he was just as excited to be in a really positive environment, the great culture there and a great coach who is empowering and at the same time demanding, and I think that will bring the best out of him,” Nash said. “And I think it was much a personal move for his happiness and development as it was to win.”

Nash also admired Durant, who opted to play for the team that eliminated him and the Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals just a little over a month ago, for the decision that he made.

“He had all the power to choose where he wanted to go within the rules and construct of the game and I take my hat off to him for making a bold decision.

Nash, who played 18 seasons in the NBA where he won the MVP award twice and had eight All-Star selections but never a championship, is here in Manila as the general manager of the Canadian national team competing in the Fiba Olympic qualifying tournament.