Kevin Durant to sign with Warriors

Kevin Durant, the biggest name in this summer’s NBA free agent class, has decided to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and sign with the Golden State Warriors.

Durant announced the decision Monday on The Players’ Tribune website. Due to NBA rules, he will not be able to officially sign with the Warriors until Thursday.

In joining the Warriors, Durant will be teamed with superstar guard Stephen Curry, along with forward Draymond Green and guard Klay Thompson. The Warriors were NBA Champions in 2014-15 and narrowly lost the NBA Finals in seven games last month to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 27-year-old forward had played for the same organization his entire career. He was the No. 2 pick of the 2007 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. The team moved to Oklahoma City and was renamed the Thunder starting in the 2008-2009 season.

“The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction,” Durant wrote. “But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.”

Durant wrote that he will miss Oklahoma City.

“It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career,” he said.

Durant won the NBA MVP award in 2014, and was third in league scoring this past regular season with 28.2 points per game. Durant led all scorers in this year’s postseason with 28.4 points per game. He also has been selected to the US Olympic men’s national team for the Rio Games.