KD: Knicks struggling in free agency because their brand is 'not as cool'

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant continues to rub salt into the wounds of New York Knicks fans.

After spurning the Knicks for their crosstown rivals this summer, Durant offered a theory Tuesday for why the club continues to strike out on marquee free agents.

"I think a lot of fans look at the Knicks as a brand and expect these younger players who - in their lifetime - don't remember the Knicks being good," Durant said on Hot 97's "Ebro in the Morning."

The 31-year-old added, "I've seen the Knicks in The Finals, but kids coming up after me didn't see that. So that whole brand of the Knicks to them is not as cool as let's say the Golden State Warriors or even the (Los Angeles) Lakers or the Nets now. ... The cool thing right now is not the Knicks."

New York dealt franchise cornerstone Kristaps Porzingis in a cap-clearing move to aid their pursuit of last summer's big fishes. In March, owner James Dolan infamously declared that his club would have a "very successful offseason when it comes to free agents."

However, the Knicks eventually failed to reel in any stars and settled for a collection of role players.

New York stumbled to an NBA-worst 17-65 record last season and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive campaign. The Knicks last made The Finals in 1999 and haven't won it all since 1973.