Kendrick Perkins: Brooklyn Nets are the front-runners to land Kevin Durant
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will miss all of the 2019-20 season, but he still has a decision to make on where he will call home next season after free agency. The former back-to-back Finals MVP could re-sign with the Warriors or elsewhere.
Kendrick Perkins, who is a former teammate of Durant, was a guest on ESPN’s “The Jump” and shared, according to his sources, that the Brooklyn Nets are the front-runner to sign Durant. Both Durant and Perkins spent four seasons together as members of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2011-2015 before Perkins was traded to the Utah Jazz on February 19, 2015, in a three-team deal that also included the Detroit Pistons. The Jazz would decide to waive Perkins two days later.
ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst didn’t refute Kendrick Perkins’ claim. In fact, he stated that Brooklyn is “gaining confidence” in terms of landing Durant this summer.
With a little over nine minutes left in the second quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Kevin Durant injured the same leg in which he’d been battling a calf strain. He tried to limp off the floor on his own, but teammate Andre Iguodala and Warriors director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini assisted him.
It turns out Durant tore his Achilles tendon in his right leg.
Enter former NBA All-Star Center Dwight Howard; he was interviewed at the New York premiere of Shaft earlier this month. AM New York’s Derrell Johnson asked Howard what advice would he give Kevin Durant in terms of playing or sitting out.
(Quote transcribed by Heavy’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson):
I can’t tell another man what to do. As a player, you never want to play hurt. When you get out there and play and lose, everyones going to say: ‘Well, you didn’t look hurt to me,’ or whatever it may be. So you have to do what’s going to be best for you in that situation and understand that your body is what you use to make money and while you’re playing you have to make sure you take care of it.
Former Warriors guard Stephen Jackson was a guest on the Voice of the Fans, and Cameron Buford, who is one of the hosts asked Jackson if he was surprised that Golden State allowed Kevin Durant to play in Game 5?
Well, my thing was I was on the outside looking in. So, even though I talk to KD, I didn’t know how he actually felt. I was only going off his love of the game and if he was healthy to play, he was going to play. I didn’t know how serious his calf injury was obviously, he knew and that is why he sat out for so long and the doctors and everyone else knew. So, I guess he was playing off the love of the game and heart. If I would have known the calf injury was in the condition it was in I wouldn’t have told him to play, but every man makes his own decisions. I talked to KD and he didn’t blame it on anyone because it was a decision he made.
There have been several reports since the All-Star break back in February, that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were looking to team up with either the Knicks or Nets possibly. It seems that the could still be a possibility despite Durant will be out next season. We will have to see what both Irving and Durant decide on June 30th at 6 p.m. ET.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
