Kevin Durant: 'I Love It Here and I Would Love to Get My Jersey Retired Here'

Kevin Durant has transformed the Oklahoma City Thunder into a perennial powerhouse, so it's no surprise he'd like to continue pushing the franchise to new heights for years to come. 

In an interview with Revolt TV, Durant discussed his willingness to mold his legacy in the Midwest for years to come, according to ESPN.com's Royce Young:

"

I love it here, man. I love my teammates, I love the city, I don't really think about anywhere else. I hear it all the time, don't get me wrong, and once you hear it you're kind of like [looks up, thinking]. But for me, I love staying in the moment, and I'm one of those guys that would love to stick it out with one team my whole career.

Kobe [Bryant], Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki type. That's awesome. But you never know what the future holds sometimes and how teams may feel about you after a while, but I love it here and I would love to get my jersey retired here.

"

That's music to the ears of Thunder fans. 

Speculation has been ramping up regarding the possibility of Durant bolting for a new locale when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2016, but the 2013-14 MVP will be hard-pressed to find a more appealing destination than Oklahoma City. 

Alonzo Adams/Associated Press

Not only can the Thunder offer Durant five years (all other teams can offer only four) on his next contract, but they'll also be able to up the ante financially as a result. Coincidentally, 2016 is when the league's salary cap is expected to spike after the players' union rejected the league's cap-smoothing proposal. 

However, Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding noted Durant's personality may be conducive to a more radical change.

"As much as this Kevin also has roots in his longtime playing home, Durant is less fearful of change," Ding wrote. "That's why his free agency is a real deal."

Unfortunately, Durant will miss the remainder of this season after undergoing successful bone graft surgery on his fractured right foot Tuesday, according to Cliff Brunt of The Associated Press. But Oklahoma City figures to be right back in the upper echelon of the Western Conference when he returns to the floor next season, which could represent a nice chance to start establishing the franchise's championship pedigree. 

One-time Western Conference champions and three-time West finalists since 2010, the Thunder undoubtedly have the talent necessary to string together a run worthy of convincing Durant to stick around long-term. 

It will just take a little luck, a clean injury report and consistent tallies in the win column to quell concerns that Durant could eventually spurn the franchise he's helped lift into elite territory.