It was the decision that changed the landscape of NBA when Kevin Durant announced he would join the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
The announcement came off the back of the Warriors final defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, which many felt would not have been the result had star Draymond Green not been suspended for a crucial game in the finals - which would ultimately see the Cavs' superstars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love rally together to win the championship over the Warriors.
En-route to the finals, the Warriors came back from a 3-1 deficit against Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder, with many criticising Durant for his play in the loss.
However, Durant adopted a 'if you can't beat them, join them' attitude, and chose to sign a deal with the Warriors, thus creating the term 'super team' with himself, Curry, Green and Klay Thompson - four all-star players on the same team. The Warriors would go on to win two NBA championships in three years, before he chose to leave in 2019 in a surprise move to the Brooklyn Nets.
And Curry was unaware that Durant would make the move, knowing he would need his fellow superstar if the team were to get back to the NBA finals. Curry revealed that he was made aware that Durant would be leaving whilst he was aboard a plane from China to speak to him.
Marcus Thompson from The Athletic reported: "Stephen Curry flew straight to the New York area from Shanghai, China. But he wasn’t going to pitch Kevin Durant on why he should stay with the Warriors. It was already too late. He was on the plane when the news broke that Durant was leaving for Brooklyn.
"And Curry didn’t turn the jet around or cancel the trip. Because it wasn’t about recruiting. It was about respect. It was about thanks.
"It was easy to presume that if anyone could sway Durant, Curry would be the one. The point guard has been the Warriors’ biggest magnet, drawing the key pieces to the dynasty, including Durant and Andre Iguodala and coach Steve Kerr. It was Curry’s mojo that built this. It was his stamp of approval that sealed Durant’s arrival. His trip to New York was seen as a last-ditch effort to keep Durant.
"But Curry went to have one last moment with Durant as teammates. To tell him one more time how much he appreciated him for the three years they had. They’d won two championships together. Dominated the league together. Made history together. He was there to wish Durant happiness and peace, express his support for his decision. And when Curry got to Durant’s apartment in Manhattan, Durant confirmed to Curry his decision that their time together was over. Face to face. Man to man. Friend to friend."
After a turbulent time in Brooklyn, Durant has been heavily linked with a move away having requested a trade this past summer.
The Warriors could have cap space to facilitate a move in the near future, with Green set to become a free agent, and being expected to join LeBron James at the Los Angeles Lakers.
