Kevin Durant is happy his former coach Scott Brooks is back in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, but he isn’t buying the theory it was done to lure him in free agency.
“I ain’t really into theories,” Durant told reporters Friday. “I’m focused on the Mavericks.”
Kevin Durant did compliment the Brooks hire: “Happy for Scotty. Glad he’s back in the NBA” pic.twitter.com/9uIU19UkZL
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 22, 2016
Brooks, who was Durant’s head coach for seven seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, agreed to a five-year, $35 million deal Thursday to become the new head coach of the Wizards after Randy Wittman was let go. He led Durant and the Thunder to five playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012.
His .620 winning percentage is the best all-time mark among coaches never to win a NBA title (minimum 500 games coached), according to ESPN Stats & Information.
When the Wizards hired Brooks, it was hard not to connect the dots. Durant is a D.C. native and a free agent this summer. By signing with the Wizards, he’d be back home and playing for a coach he liked and respected in Brooks.
But for now, Durant is focused on the here and now and getting past the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. The theories will have to wait until after the Thunder are through.
