Kevin Durant has shed some light on why he traded the Golden State Warriors for the Brooklyn Nets back in 2019, saying it had nothing to do with trying to be better than LeBron James or Michael Jordan.

The 34-year-old forward left San Francisco after their NBA Finals loss to the Toronto Raptors three years ago, joining the Nets in New York.

Durant was a two-time NBA champion with the Warriors in just three seasons and landed MVP on both occasions but critics pointed out he linked up with an already-successful team.

Kevin Durant shed some light on why he traded the Golden State Warriors for Brooklyn Nets

His move to the Nets was viewed by some as one to prove his champion credentials but Durant claims it wasn’t about ‘chasing something’ or competing with James and Jordan.

‘I just wanted to play ball somewhere else,’ he told The Washington Post.

‘But a lot of people see it as I’m chasing something. And I think it probably stems [from] when I said, “I don’t want to be No. 2 no more.” I was No. 2 in high school, in the draft. But what I had to explain to people was, I had just lost in the Finals.

Durant doesn’t ‘give a s***’ about being better than LeBron James (L) or Michael Jordan (R)

‘I wanted to go back and win the Finals. It wasn’t about: “I want to be the best ever. I want to be better than LeBron or [Michael Jordan].” I don’t give a s*** about that. I want to wake up every day and do what I do.

‘If we win, I know that stuff comes with me being the best that I can be.’

Durant’s Nets were swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season by the Boston Celtics but he has been in fine form this season following his request to move away from Brooklyn in the offseason.

The Nets posted the third-highest NBA halftime score ever with 91-51 lead over the Warriors on the way to a ruthless 143-113 win in New York this week with Durant top scoring in only 29 minutes.

Durant top scored for the Nets in a commanding display against the Warriors on Wednesday