Kevin Durant was in a walking boot following another surgery on his foot in June of 2015 watching the NBA Finals. Durant had just met Billy Donovan and was getting closer to returning to the court.

"It's our year next year!" he said via text.

Then he sent another text.

"Then Ima sign back and build a sick ass house and keep stacking chips!! That's [the] goal."

Durant said he wasn't moved by the need for a championship to validate greatness.

"Our world revolves around championships," he said in a recent Sports Illustrated feature. "Who won the championship? Who will win the championship? If you're not the champion, you're a loser. If you're not first, you're last.

"Don't get me wrong, I want to win a championship more than anybody, but if you go through the journey we've gone through, you can also appreciate other things."

Durant repeated a phrase often: "I'm no frontrunner."

Durant ultimately decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors after a series of meetings over the long 4th of July weekend in the Hamptons.