KD on Jay-Z partnership: ‘He knows his lane with me’

There’s been some concern about Kevin Durant and his recent partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, mostly surrounding his free agency in 2016 (which is THREE seasons away).

But Durant says Thunder fans shouldn’t worry, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman:

“He has nothing to do with if I’m going to leave OKC or none of that,” Durant said. “I heard that before so put that out on the table. He has nothing to do with that. He knows his lane with me. Their team knows their lane with me. And they’re letting me handle the basketball part. I would tell fans not to worry about that at all.”

Durant has never wavered in his affection for Oklahoma City or the Thunder, repeatedly taking every opportunity to express his desire to remain with the city and team “as long as possible.”

With Jay-Z being a big market guy, and a former minority owner of the Nets, there’s anxiety that his influence could push Durant to brighter lights. But KD made the move to Roc Nation more as a branding and marketing ploy than anything else. Durant is already maybe the most marketable player in the league, and as a reminder, he currently plays in one of professional sports smallest markets. Hasn’t held him back yet.

“I was thinking about myself first and how I could be better off the court, because that comes with the game. I can’t just overlook that,” Durant told The Oklahoman. “I’ve got to take care of that, and they have a great team that’s going to help me.

“It was something that I was really interested in. It was an intriguing situation. They’ve done so well for their brand, and it was something that I thought could help. I’m looking forward to becoming the first basketball guy. I’m looking forward to all of the people they have over there that’s going to work with me and handle the stuff off the court while I handle my basketball.”

There were initial reports from ESPN.com’s Darren Rovel that Durant merged with Jay-Z because it was an opportunity to “be with his idol and couldn’t say no.” Durant says that’s incorrect.

“I didn’t say that at all. They’re speaking for me,” Durant told the Oklahoman. “I didn’t say that at all. I didn’t say he was my idol. I seen that comment, ‘he’s my idol and I couldn’t pass it up.’ Nah, I didn’t say that at all. I really respect Jay-Z for what he’s done, being a rapper and then moving over to the business side and conducting himself the way he is now. But I never said he was my idol and I couldn’t pass up on it.”

Again, 2016 is a long ways away. Don’t think too much about KD’s future. Because he doesn’t seem all that worried about it.