Free agent Kevin Durant has announced he will be joining Golden State Warriors for the 2016-17 NBA season. The small forward left Oklahoma City Thunder at the end of the last campaign, ending a nine-year association with the franchise.

The 27-year-old originally entered the league as the second pick of the draft in 2007, joining the Seattle Supersonics, before following the team when they relocated to Oklahoma the following year.

Durant has now decided to leave the Thunder and has confirmed he will be joining last season’s NBA runners-up, Golden State, in order to continue his development.

“This has been by far the most challenging few weeks in my professional life,” Durant wrote on The Players Tribune.

“The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player – as that has always steered me in the right direction.

“I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth.

With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.”

Durant has averaged 27.4 points per game during his career to date and will be joining a formidable team at Golden State that already includes last season’s most valuable player Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Steve Kerr’s side claimed championship glory in 2015 before losing to the LeBron James-inspired Cleveland Cavaliers last season.

They are available at 1.91 to secure overall glory once again in 2017.