It took a full off-season for Kevin Durant to appreciate the magnitude of a campaign which had seen him enjoy the loudest of last laughs.
All the vitriol which spewed forth on social media, the flak on the court from former team-mate Russell Westbrook and a hate-fuelled return to Oklahoma City Thunder, was eventually confined to meagre white noise.
Individually and collectively, Durant had achieved his ultimate goal – an NBA Championship and an MVP accolade.
Last season Golden State’s Kevin Durant won an NBA Championship and an MVP accolade
The 28-year-old was speaking at the Nike launch of the new kit for the upcoming season
‘The whole summer I just reflected on the year I had personally and the success we had with the team,’ Durant tells Sportsmail at a Nike launch party in Los Angeles, on the eve of the new NBA season.
‘When you reflect on the year, you just learn so much about yourself. You learn what it takes to reach a goal.’
Now, Durant can look back and reflect on making the right decision for his career. But it was far from a straightforward one.
Durant was part of the furniture at perennial play-off hopefuls Oklahoma for eight years, yet after pondering long and hard, he decided to make the acrimonious move to the Golden State Warriors in July 2016.
It had been less than two months since Golden State ended Oklahoma’s play-off dreams in the Conference finals and the pain of defeat was still raw.
Announced on Independence Day, it was a trade that left a bitter taste for the overwhelming majority of Thunder fans, whose Bank Holiday spirit was swiftly eroded.
Durant faced online abuse and flak from other stars but enjoyed individual and team success
But the Washington native learned to ignore the basketball baggage and focus on his game
The forward was trolled relentlessly on social media and branded a ‘cupcake’ – an old Oklahoma reference for any player perceived as being ‘soft’. Cupcake posters and chants were even scattered among the crowd when Durant made a winning-return to the club in February.
But the off-field experience prompted the 28-year-old to grow as a player. He learned to ignore the basketball baggage and merely focused on his game.
Boy, did it prove successful after Durant inspired Golden State to a 4-1 rout over Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. He averaged more than 35 points in each of those sink-or-swim encounters.
Durant said: ‘I understood the feelings that some of these fans had, but I couldn’t let that deter me from what I wanted to accomplish.
‘But it just makes the story even better, knowing you go through things like that and you keep on believing.
‘I felt like I always had tough skin.
‘It’s about going in there, doing your job every single day the way you’re supposed to do it. That’s toughness.
Durant celebrates with Golden State Warriors supporters during their victory parade in June
‘Other stuff is just nonsense.
‘Once I separated that, I realised what this stuff really means and it made me go harder on the basketball court and more focused.
‘That’s why I feel good when I drop a shot. I feel like I can control that and it’s not going to control me.’
Durant will not be the first – or last – player to prompt a public outcry from transferring his allegiances.
James was on the receiving end of dog’s abuse when he ended his first spell with the Cavaliers to move to Miami, while a similar fate may befall Kyrie Irving after ending a six-year stint in Cleveland to join the Boston Celtics.
But after going through such a career-defining experience, Durant insists that a negative fan reaction shouldn’t be a barrier towards any player fulfilling their objectives.
‘I talk about this subject all the time with basketball fans,’ he said.
‘Imagine not going somewhere that’s going to help you grow because you’re worried individually and personally about someone you don’t even know.
‘That’s not toughness to me.
‘You have to applaud these guys for wanting to take control of their careers. Kyrie doing what he wanted to do, you can appreciate that.
Durant was awarded the Most Valuable Player award after they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers
‘The goal is obviously to be the best we can be – try to win another championship,’ he said
‘Everybody who moves and makes a decision based on their lives is a great plus.’
Despite Irving’s departure, Durant fully expects Cleveland and Golden State to remain among the leading contenders when the new NBA season begins next month, albeit he’s diplomatic enough to leave the door open to other sides.
He said: ‘We know these two teams, us and Cleveland, have a really good chance of playing in those finals.
‘Along with others – San Antonio have a chance, Boston, Houston, Oklahoma City. You just want to be in that group of teams that have a chance, and I feel that’s us.
‘The goal is obviously to be the best we can be – try to win another championship – but you can’t force that, it’s going to happen organically.’
Durant’s jersey – and the shirt of every other NBA player this season – will feature a revolutionary piece of technology from manufacturers Nike.
A Nike Connect microchip has been placed beneath the NBA logo, which can be scanned with a smartphone to access courtside videos, behind-the-scenes interaction with the players and exclusive merchandise offers.
Durant added: ‘It’s a great opportunity for players to connect with fans. I wish I had it as a kid.
‘It’s great for the league. It’s fun to see how everyone is playing with it.’