Durant says N.Y. was

OAKLAND — Kevin Durant was stationed in the Hamptons over the summer during his free agent meetings, less than 100 miles from the Garden.

But even with this proximity and pleas from Carmelo Anthony, Durant said he decided against sitting down with New York’s brass for a “simple” reason. “Uh, because I didn’t want to.” Durant met with mostly contending teams (Warriors, Spurs, Thunder and Clippers) in July, but also listened to the Heat and Celtics. He ultimately formed the Super Duper team by signing with the Warriors on a two-year, $54.3 million contract with an opt-out after this season.

Anthony was very open about his attempts to lure Durant to NYC, but the Knicks were coming off a 50-loss season and were never in the picture.

“I didn’t want to lead anybody on,” Durant said. “I got a lot of friends in the league. I got calls throughout the summer. But I made the best decision I wanted to make, the best decision for me, I’m happy I’m here. All that stuff is in the past. Melo and I remain great friends. That’s what’s most important. We didn’t let that get in between the friendship.”

In July, Knicks GM Steve Mills had a different story about the circumstances, saying the Knicks had the option of meeting with Durant but knew they didn’t fit his criteria as a contending team. The point of the meeting then, according to Mills, would’ve been to develop a relationship should Durant become a free agent again next summer.

And while Durant will more than likely opt out of his contract, Mills said that since Durant “made the decision to go to Golden State, my assumption is that he’ll stay there.”

Durant said he never thought about the Knicks.

“I thought about the teams that I met with, that’s who I sat down with,” Durant said Thursday ahead of Golden State’s home game