Will a title this year redeem KD to the masses?

[stuporman]

KD puts the ass in legassy.... wait...it doesn't have it in there? It does now...KD put it in.

[nikster]

If he wins a title and FMVP this season he’s top 10 all time and ahead of Curry.

Also those saying “he’ll end up top 20 all time” are delusional haters. He’s easily already top 20.

How the hell does this vault him ahead of Curry? Currys got a title both before and after him and was probably more important than him in the runs they did have together

If KD has 4 combined MVPs and FMVPs he’s ahead of Curry. By the way when they were teammates Durant outshined Curry EASILY. Get outta here with that “he was probably more important in the runs they had together”. Durant won FMVP twice over Curry and deserved it. People just love to hate on Durant for going to GS in the first place and throw away all objectivity when evaluating his career.

2017 Finals:
Durant: 35.2ppg 8.2red 5.4ast (.556/.474/.927)
Steph: 26.6ppg 8reb 9.4ast (.440/.388/.897)

2018 Finals:
Durant: 28.8ppg 10.8reb 8.5ast (.526/.409/.963)
Steph: 27.5pts 6reb 6.8ast (.402/.415/1.00)

Look at the coverage he was facing. Not star player has ever faced coverage like that. Was Durant better than Lebron those finals too?

[jkvonny]

If he and this Suns team wins an NBA title, it would be a very huge accomplishment.
1st ever Suns championship.

Also, its been an inconsistent team with high expectations. So, ya. Huge accomplishment if they can do it.

Better than the rings he won with the stacked, superteam GSW.

[One_and_Done]

I already have KD around 10th all-time. The lack of 3pt shooting on those OKC teams was comical.

My top 10 would be something like:
1. Lebron

2. Duncan/Kareem
3. Kareem/Duncan

4. Jordan maybe? Still worried I have him too high
5. Shaq
6. Magic
7. Hakeem
8. KG
9. Curry
10. Bird

Then the next group in no order is KD, Dirk, CP3, Giannis, Jokic, D.Rob, Nash, Mailman, etc.

[Soca]

It's not going to happen and that Beal acquisition/contract continues to look horrific.

[Marrrcuss]

How the hell does this vault him ahead of Curry? Currys got a title both before and after him and was probably more important than him in the runs they did have together

If KD has 4 combined MVPs and FMVPs he’s ahead of Curry. By the way when they were teammates Durant outshined Curry EASILY. Get outta here with that “he was probably more important in the runs they had together”. Durant won FMVP twice over Curry and deserved it. People just love to hate on Durant for going to GS in the first place and throw away all objectivity when evaluating his career.

2017 Finals:
Durant: 35.2ppg 8.2red 5.4ast (.556/.474/.927)
Steph: 26.6ppg 8reb 9.4ast (.440/.388/.897)

2018 Finals:
Durant: 28.8ppg 10.8reb 8.5ast (.526/.409/.963)
Steph: 27.5pts 6reb 6.8ast (.402/.415/1.00)

Look at the coverage he was facing. Not star player has ever faced coverage like that. Was Durant better than Lebron those finals too?

Why do yall keep lying as if we didn't watch that series. KD was the best warrior and it wasn't remotely close.

[iggymcfrack]

Sure winning a title with that thin team would be the most impressive thing KD’s done in his entire career by a mile and it would radically reshape the perception of his career if it happens. It’s also INCREDIBLY unlikely. Basketball-reference currently gives the Suns a 0.3% chance to win the title compared to a 0.8% chance to fail to even make the play-in. I’m not saying I think their chances are actually that low, but I don’t think they’re realistic contenders at all. I’d say there’s a better chance they miss the playoffs than there is that they make the second round.

For your other largely unrelated question, I voted top 25 as I currently have KD at #25 and I don’t really see him doing anything to pass Kobe for #24 or to get passed by anyone below him any time soon.

Kobe #24 and KD #25???
OK, that’s saying that you don't like those two players AT ALL. Got it.

I’m not a big believer in one dimensional scorers. Guys like Jokic, CP3, Stockton, Oscar, and West lift the entire team. They don’t just get theirs.

[DonaldSanders]

How the hell does this vault him ahead of Curry? Currys got a title both before and after him and was probably more important than him in the runs they did have together

If KD has 4 combined MVPs and FMVPs he’s ahead of Curry. By the way when they were teammates Durant outshined Curry EASILY. Get outta here with that “he was probably more important in the runs they had together”. Durant won FMVP twice over Curry and deserved it. People just love to hate on Durant for going to GS in the first place and throw away all objectivity when evaluating his career.

2017 Finals:
Durant: 35.2ppg 8.2red 5.4ast (.556/.474/.927)
Steph: 26.6ppg 8reb 9.4ast (.440/.388/.897)

2018 Finals:
Durant: 28.8ppg 10.8reb 8.5ast (.526/.409/.963)
Steph: 27.5pts 6reb 6.8ast (.402/.415/1.00)

Look at the coverage he was facing. Not star player has ever faced coverage like that. Was Durant better than Lebron those finals too?

Yup. https://streamable.com/958sh

At the time Curry was absolutely under-credited for getting KD open. Now that Steph has proven himself 'solo' people have looked back and warmed up to what Steph did to get KD open all the time. The Cavs sold out to cover Curry over KD, leaving KD with quality looks. To KD's credit, he knocked it out of the park and I think the pendulum has swing a bit too far away from him.

I wish they each got 1 Finals MVP 2017/18 because I think they both deserved one. Steph has all the metrics of being more important during their time together (actually by a landslide) but KD was absolutely fire -- so many people have had open looks thanks to Steph over Steph's career and *not* hit them anywhere close to what KD did. It may sound silly, but I've felt what makes the most sense those 2 seasons is to give both equal credit.

[NyKnicks1714]

Over the KD hate. Dude is one of greatest to ever do it and he's a joy to watch.

And I'd also rather live in the Bay Area and play with Steph and Klay than live in Oklahoma City and play with Westbrook.

[Ito]

I want to say top 15.. prolly a top 10 talent ever.. top 15 player.. can’t name 10 players off the top right now that are for sure better players doe.. I say between 10-20 all time reasonable.. I never been that big on Durant (his decision making) but the game is there

[WarriorGM]

If he wins a title and FMVP this season he’s top 10 all time and ahead of Curry.

Also those saying “he’ll end up top 20 all time” are delusional haters. He’s easily already top 20.

How the hell does this vault him ahead of Curry? Currys got a title both before and after him and was probably more important than him in the runs they did have together

If KD has 4 combined MVPs and FMVPs he’s ahead of Curry. By the way when they were teammates Durant outshined Curry EASILY. Get outta here with that “he was probably more important in the runs they had together”. Durant won FMVP twice over Curry and deserved it. People just love to hate on Durant for going to GS in the first place and throw away all objectivity when evaluating his career.

2017 Finals:
Durant: 35.2ppg 8.2red 5.4ast (.556/.474/.927)
Steph: 26.6ppg 8reb 9.4ast (.440/.388/.897)

2018 Finals:
Durant: 28.8ppg 10.8reb 8.5ast (.526/.409/.963)
Steph: 27.5pts 6reb 6.8ast (.402/.415/1.00)

I'm a Curry fan foremost but I like KD. I thought the proper thing to do given the circumstances at the time was for the FMVPs to be split between them those years because the FMVP is a narrative award and the narrative closest to the truth was that those two teamed up and dominated the league. The FMVP voters instead chose to go with the story that KD was clearly the greatest player in the world or at least on the Warriors. But the truth will out and it has. At this point I'm perfectly fine with KD getting both FMVPs those years because if anything he is being underrated. But as the current conventional wisdom shows FMVPs don't mean much next to showing you can lead a team to a championship. People may think that's what FMVPs are for but as one can see no that's not really what they are.

[FarBeyondDriven]

nothing KD can do to erase the past. His legacy took more of a hit by joining Steph than it was helped by winning two rings. That said, if he could navigate through the gauntlet that is the Western Conference and bring Phoenix their first championship and win Finals MVP it'd be massive. He'd be solidly in that tier outside the top 10 alongside guys like Giannis, Jokic, Dr. J, Shaq, Steph and Olajuwon.

[RalphWiggum]

KD joining the Warriors was the most gutless thing I've ever seen in sports.

If he won the title he probably jumps 3-4 guys I have ahead of him but big picture it wouldn't move the needle much, he'll always be a coward to me.