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The Whiteboard: Kevin Durant here for a good time, not a long time

By Ti Windisch

CLEVELAND, CA - JUN 8: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals won 108-85 by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, CA - JUN 8: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals won 108-85 by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Is Kevin Durant really going to hang up his KDs at the ripe old age of 35?

Hey there, and welcome to The Whiteboard for the first time ever. The Whiteboard is going to be a daily post here at The Step Back, coming Monday through Friday with some original analysis plus some of the best NBA writing there is from the day before.

Nothing is entirely comprehensive, but the hope is anyone who reads this every day will know just about everything they need to about what’s happening in the NBA. Until the next day, that is, when The Whiteboard is erased and filled in all over again.

The Golden State Warriors and their star players were going to make headlines no matter what in the immediate wake of their third NBA title in four years, but Kevin Durant upped the ante by telling ESPN’s Chris Haynes that he seems himself retiring in five years. According to Haynes:

"“This game, your craft, you have to continue studying it,” said Durant. “No matter how much you enjoy it, nobody wants to be in school that long. I know I don’t. At some point, you have to be ready to graduate. Thirty-five, that’s just a number in my mind.”"

KD is strange. This is not news. Still, it feels odd for an NBA player who did go to college, if only for a matter of months, to compare his NBA career to being in school. Could anyone besides Kevin Durant make being an NBA MVP, Finals MVP and champion sound like sitting through algebra class in the ninth grade?

Even for Durant, this quote seems bizarre. In the past he’s repeatedly asserted that being a star doesn’t appeal to him much, that he doesn’t like the media scrutiny, and that he really just loves the game of basketball. Now it sounds like even playing basketball is somewhat tiring for Durant.

Based on the success he’s achieved already, and what he could very well do in the five years he has left before turning 35, KD could still have a career with statistics, accolades, and rings that place him in rare air if he quits in 2023. Maybe there will be nothing left to prove by then.

For what it’s worth, Durant’s agent, Rich Kleiman, seemed skeptical that KD will actually be done at 35 in Haynes’ article. I’m sure Bill Simmons will have some takes and questions about this at the ready for the next time he and Durant drink wine and record a podcast together.

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