Kerr likens Durant's 'remarkable' financial sacrifice to Duncan, Spurs
The Golden State Warriors are already incredibly deep into the luxury tax, and that's with NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant taking a pay cut so the organization could keep key members of its roster.
Durant decided to remain in the Bay Area on a two-year deal worth only $53 million - well below the $36 million per year he could have earned on a max deal. That level of sacrifice hasn't gone unnoticed by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who compared Durant's commitment to that of one of Kerr's former teammates in the Lone Star State.
"I knew he was going to give up enough money to allow us to keep Andre (Iguodala) and Shaun (Livingston). I didn’t know he was going to go beyond that," the coach told The Mercury News' Anthony Slater on Monday. "A remarkable gesture.
"I told him it reminded me a little bit of Tim Duncan and his time with the (San Antonio) Spurs. He made max money and then at key times in his career he took a little less so they could add a player here and there. The way the league works, the way the CBA works, it really kind of is up to the star player at key times to take a little haircut here and there."
Related: Warriors GM says team is 'way over' budget
Taking into account Durant's deal, re-signing Iguodala and Livingston, coming to terms with Nick Young and Omri Casspi, and Stephen Curry's five-year super-max contract, the Warriors have spent roughly $335 million since free agency began July 1. The tax threshold is set at $119.3 million for 2017-18, with Golden State hovering around $136 million in salary.
Durant's still significantly helped matters, and factoring in all the money he's made in the past - $135.2 million in salary, not including the income he's generated through endorsements and other avenues - taking $10 million less likely won't hurt his bank account much.
"Whether that's fair or not, I don't know," said Kerr about elite talents biting the bullet financially in an effort to assist their respective teams. "But I do know that Tim (Duncan) knew it was dramatically helping his own career and KD understands the same thing. In the end, he's going to make a fortune in his career. Already has and he hopefully is going to win more titles and that's what he cares about."