LOS ANGELES — If Kevin Durant leaves Oklahoma City, it won’t be because he doesn’t like it there.
The Thunder’s first-time all-star forward already has gone on record as saying he thinks his team has a chance to win a championship if it stays together. Of course, that will hinge on whether Durant stays or leaves for a maximum contract offer elsewhere.
“That’s the last thing I’m thinking about right now,” Durant said before Friday night’s game against the Clippers. “It’s too early to talk about that. If I worry about that, it will take the focus off the team. I just want to continue to get better. The guys here have faith that I’ll be here for as long as possible.”
Durant has spent the past week playing leapfrog with LeBron James for the NBA scoring lead. The Thunder has never had a scoring champion in the franchise’s 43-year history. But that isn’t what motivates him.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with it,” the three-year veteran said. “I mean, coming into this league, I didn’t say, ‘I want to win the scoring title to get more money.’ I just want to be a champion.”
Durant who becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2011, has made it clear that if the Thunder gives him a maximum contract offer — somewhere in the vicinity of five years and $80 million — perhaps then he’ll sign it. But negotiations with general manager Sam Presti can’t begin until July 1.
Durant entered Friday needing one more 30-point game to increase his league-leading total to 35.
