Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant commended Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James on his decision to return home. Durant was uncertain about his own free agency plans for 2016, leaving open the possibility of the reigning MVP returning to his own hometown team, Washington Wizards, in two years.
James, who opted out of his contract in June, decided to return to Cleveland in free agency. It was a choice that surprised some, but it didn't generate nearly the amount of controversy as his infamous "Decision" in 2010 did.
Durant, a teammate of James on the USA Olympic team, called James's decision to make his announcement in a Sports Illustrated essay "classy."
"I thought it was well-thought-out. It was classy. It was a great move to do it as a letter," Durant said Tuesday at Team USA's training camp, via ESPN. "That was pretty cool. It's funny seeing guys think about more than just basketball for once. He thought about the city where he comes from, about Northeast Ohio and how he can affect so many of the kids just being there playing basketball. I love that.
"So many guys get criticized for making the decision that's best for them instead of what's best for everybody else. He's a guy that did that. You gotta respect that. I applauded him, I texted him and told him congratulations on the decision and told him I was happy for him.
"As a fan of the game, it's going to be pretty cool to see him back in Cleveland."
Durant's sentiment for playing in one's hometown could affect his choice in 2016, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Durant is from a Maryland suburb outside of Washington, D.C., leading some to speculate he may consider signing with the Wizards.
"I'm going to do what's best for me," Durant said. "It's hard to talk about that right now when I've got two years left in Oklahoma City. I'm just going to focus on that. I'm not going to make a decision based on what anybody else does.
"I grew up watching the Bullets/Wizards. I grew up taking the train to that arena, all the time, to watch Georgetown, the Bullets, the Washington Mystics. That whole city is a part of me. It's in my blood. I love going back home, seeing my family and playing there, but I love Oklahoma City, too."
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported earlier in July a source close to Durant as saying the 25-year-old would seriously consider signing in Washington if he were to leave Oklahoma City.
*Article updated.
