Did Kevin Durant’s exit strategy take root in Warriors’ 2018 victory parade?

We may never know fully why Kevin Durant bolted the Warriors for the Brooklyn Nets.

Or, it might be as simple as cueing up the video.

Kendrick Perkins, a one-time teammate of Durant’s at Oklahoma City, talking to The Undefeated, said an ill-considered crack that happened just minutes before the Warriors’ victory parade in June 2018 hit Durant the wrong way. It happened in a televised exchange between Warriors’ president of basketball operations Bob Myers, head coach Steve Kerr, team broadcaster Bob Fitzgerald and Warriors players who were seated in a staging area prior to the parade.

If you saw it, you remember it. It was beyond awkward in real time. The New York Post’s play-by-play is instructive:

Myers and Steve Kerr were standing alongside television play-by-play man Bob Fitzgerald. “I heard you tell Kevin Durant he could have whatever contract he wants next year,” Fitzgerald said to Myers.

“That was just for the media. He can’t have anything like that at all,” Myers said. Kerr interjected: “Mid-level.”

“I think last year you told Steph (Curry) he could have any contract he wants, too,” Fitzgerald said.

“Yeah, that was different. He’s been here from the way-before days. He’s earned it,” Myers replied. Curry looked at Durant, who tried to laugh it off but clearly wasn’t amused by what was happening.

“And there ended the Warriors’ cohesion, right there,” Fitzgerald said.

The video is even more cringe-worthy: