The Washington Commanders have been busy rebuilding their roster this offseason, and one of their recent transactions has caught the eye of Kevin Durant.
The Phoenix Suns forward is a known Washington Commanders fan because he grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. So, when the team unveiled their new signing, Austin Ekeler, Durant couldn’t help but express his excitement.
“Luh (love) this pick up…” posted Durant on his X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday.
Austin Ekeler was linked to several NFL teams, including the Los Angeles Rams. But he went to the nation’s capital after the Washington Commanders lost Antonio Gibson to the New England Patriots in free agency.
The 28-year-old Western Colorado product played 14 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, amassing 628 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards for six touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving).
Kevin Durant on why he likes Austin Ekeler’s move to the Washington Commanders
Kevin Durant got into a social media banter with the fans, responding to the critics of the Washington Commanders’ acquisition of Austin Ekeler.
When one fan claimed that his Phoenix Suns teammate, Jusuf Nurkic, could beat Ekeler in a foot race, the 2014 NBA MVP hilariously replied, “That Saquon pick up got u gassed. Chill.” Durant was talking about Saquon Barkley’s new three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
And when another Los Angeles Chargers fan approved of Austin Ekeler’s move to Washington, Kevin Durant said that he likes the Washington Commanders’ RB room, as Ekeler “only adds to it.”
Kevin Durant actually wanted to be part of the Washington Commanders’ new ownership group
We all know that Kevin Durant is a lifelong supporter of the Washington Commanders, so when there was an opportunity to co-own the team in 2022, the two-time NBA champion expressed interest when Dan Snyder was selling the team.
“I would love to do it. I would love to give a little bit of my money to be a part of the Commanders, but we’ll see,” said Durant via ESPN.
However, Durant’s wish didn’t come true, although he never stopped supporting the Washington Commanders as he attended their training camp last year.
“I know he is a local guy. I know how much of a Washington Redskins/Commanders fan he is. It’s great to have his support. I mean, it is great to have the fanbase back,” said then-head coach Ron Rivera about Kevin Durant.