User:Eithersummer/sandbox/mynextchapter

"My Next Chapter" is an article by National Basketball Association player Kevin Durant announcing that he would sign with the Golden State Warriors. It was published in The Player's Tribune on July 4, 2016, three days after Durant had become an unrestricted free agent.

Kevin Durant
Durant was drafted in 2007 by the Seattle Supersonics, which became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. During his nine seasons with the team he established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's best players, was a seven-time NBA All-Star, and led the team to a near-victory over the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. Durant was considered at the time to have developed strong ties to the Thunder and the city, stating that he would prefer to play his entire career for the Thunder.

Summary
The 353-word article was published in the The Player's Tribune on July 4, 2016. In it, Durant states that his decision to join the Warriors was based on his desire to move out of his comfort zone and to a new location that would maximize his potential to grow as a player and person. He briefly reflects fondly on his time with the Thunder, expresses regret that he will disappoint many fans with his choice, and concludes by stating that he will miss the team.

Reactions
Durant's decision was criticized as "taking the easy way out", joining a powerhouse team that had both won 73 regular season games in the previous season and defeated the Thunder in the playoffs. Commentator Stephen A. Smith referred to the move as "weak" on Twitter, and many NBA players used the platform to express surprise at the decision. Much of the criticism was also attributed to a sense that Durant's move would make the league much less competitive, as the Warriors with Durant would overwhelmingly dominate the Western Conference, thereby preventing any other teams in the conference from making it to the NBA Finals, similar to how the Eastern Conference was dominated by teams led by LeBron James. Fans of the Thunder were particularly incensed at Durant's percieved betrayal of the franchise in joining the Warriors. The volume of backlash, which included vandalism in the area surrounding Durant's home, led him to initially regret his move. The decision and the criticism were compared to James's move to the Miami Heat in 2010 and the resulting reaction, respectively, though the Warriors with Durant were projected to be much more talented than the Heat with James by virtue of being younger and having more star players. Concerns were also raised over the sustainability of the Warriors' new roster, as they would have to cut "trusted" players like center Andrew Bogut to clear salary cap space for Durant, and new starting center Draymond Green would therefore need to endure greater physical punishment.

Aftermath
Durant would go on to play for three seasons with the Warriors, winning two consecutive NBA championships with the team in 2017 and 2018. He was booed during his first game against the Thunder as a Warriors player. On July 7, 2019, he was acquired by the Brooklyn Nets in a sign-and-trade deal.

Durant has more recently stated that he does not regret joining the Warriors, and in a Bleacher Report-hosted conversation with Draymond Green he said that he would "do that shit a million times". Conversely, Durant has stated that he has no intention of returning to Oklahoma City, citing the treatment from the organization's fans and staff, though relations have warmed as of 2023.