Kevin Durant may take a pay cut to keep the Warriors core intact

Kevin Durant reportedly may take less money on his contract this summer in order to keep the Warrior’s core together.

Kevin Durant came to the Golden State Warriors to learn the ways of the NBA’s best team. Durant, one of the NBA’s best and greatest talents, caught much flack last summer for leaving the only team he’d ever played for — the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As many would have guessed, Durant fit perfectly with the Warriors this season. He averaged 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in the regular season. Apparently, though, Durant has enjoyed his time enough that he’s willing to not give up a max contract from the Warriors, according to ESPN. This, all to keep the team’s core intact for the future.

"Durant’s gesture would allow the Warriors to keep their entire core together for years to come even as star point guard Stephen Curry potentially signs one of the first five-year, “supermax” contracts created by the new collective bargaining agreement in which a team can reward one designated veteran player per year with a contract starting at 35 percent of next year’s projected $101 million salary cap."

Durant is aware that it’s not just he, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Supporting players such as Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are just as important to the team’s success. Taking less money helps takes care of them, too.

"This is particularly relevant to free agents Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, who have been pivotal to the Warriors’ success as they have advanced to three straight NBA Finals."

Next: 2017 NBA Finals could be another classic, or a disaster.

Durant and the  Warriors are facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals for the third straight year. A win against the Cavaliers may all but cement Durant’s place with the Warriors for the future.