Kevin Durant's Legacy - The Pressure is On

[Stalwart]

One thing that typically comes along with being a bonafide All Time Great and NBA Superstar, both of which I consider KD to be, is the incredible amount of pressure to win and the scrutiny that player faces until they do. Jordan faced this pressure in the late 80s. Shaq faced it in the late 90s. Kobe faced it in the post Shaq years. Lebron faced it during the late 00s. Even Giannis was starting to feel it after losing in 2019 and 2020. The pressure these guys face is unrelenting and unforgiving.

Well, I think it's long overdue for KD to get the proper treatment he deserves as an All Time Great player who has never been able to lead his own team to a title. Yes, he is technically a NBA Champion. But so was Kobe Bryant after playing with Shaq. Did that matter to the critics? No it didn't. Did anybody care that Lebron didn't have much help in Cleveland? Nope. Does Barkley and Malone get a pass for having to face Jordan? No they don't. At the end of the day they failed to get the job done and have had their careers and legacy defined by it, whether fairly or unfairly.

The fact is KD is still only 33yrs old and playing with alongside a prime Kyrie Irving. It's time for KD to figure out how to lead this team to a title or face being put in that same group with Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and the other all time great players who failed to lead their teams to an NBA title.

[Nick Sigler]

One thing that typically comes along with being a bonafide All Time Great and NBA Superstar, both of which I consider KD to be, is the incredible amount of pressure to win and the scrutiny that player faces until they do. Jordan faced this pressure in the late 80s. Shaq faced it in the late 90s. Kobe faced it in the post Shaq years. Lebron faced it during the late 00s. Even Giannis was starting to feel it after losing in 2019 and 2020. The pressure these guys face is unrelenting and unforgiving.

Well, I think it's long overdue for KD to get the proper treatment he deserves as an All Time Great player who has never been able to lead his own team to a title. Yes, he is technically a NBA Champion. But so was Kobe Bryant after playing with Shaq. Did that matter to the media and to the critics? No it didn't. Did anybody care that Lebron didn't have much help in Cleveland? Nope. Did Wilt catch any slack for going up against a stacked Celtics team every year? Did Jordan catch a break for facing a stacked Pistons team? Not at all. Does Barkley and Malone get a pass for having to face Jordan? Nope. They failed to get the job done and have had their careers and legacy defined by it.

The fact is KD is still only 33yrs old and playing with alongside a prime Kyrie Irving. It's time for KD to figure out how to lead this team to a title or face being put in that same group with Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and the other all time great players who failed to lead their teams to an NBA title.

What.

[dockingsched]

This topic will get so much juicier if the warriors go on to win the title

[chilluminati]

LeGaCy.

I'm really starting to hate that word. I'm no KD stan, but I'm really sick of the constant ESPN-esque critique of players careers compared to others, or what someone is expected to do or not. Who cares man.

Also, he has 2 rings.

[flytimes11]

One thing that typically comes along with being a bonafide All Time Great and NBA Superstar, both of which I consider KD to be, is the incredible amount of pressure to win and the scrutiny that player faces until they do. Jordan faced this pressure in the late 80s. Shaq faced it in the late 90s. Kobe faced it in the post Shaq years. Lebron faced it during the late 00s. Even Giannis was starting to feel it after losing in 2019 and 2020. The pressure these guys face is unrelenting and unforgiving.

Well, I think it's long overdue for KD to get the proper treatment he deserves as an All Time Great player who has never been able to lead his own team to a title. Yes, he is technically a NBA Champion. But so was Kobe Bryant after playing with Shaq. Did that matter to the critics? No it didn't. Did anybody care that Lebron didn't have much help in Cleveland? Nope. Does Barkley and Malone get a pass for having to face Jordan? No they don't. At the end of the day they failed to get the job done and have had their careers and legacy defined by it, whether fairly or unfairly.

The fact is KD is still only 33yrs old and playing with alongside a prime Kyrie Irving. It's time for KD to figure out how to lead this team to a title or face being put in that same group with Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and the other all time great players who failed to lead their teams to an NBA title.

In reference to the Kobe part… Kd was finals MVP, he did the same thing Lebron did and his legacy isn’t questioned around here. Also on realgm Basketball is only a team sport when it’s convenient. Example Lebron came back from 3-1 when bron wins vs Cleveland had no talent outside of Lebron when bron loses lol.

[Cavsfansince84]

I don't think he's going to turn into a leader/a guy who knows how to galvanize a roster at age 33/34. That's not who he is and he said as much when he went to GS that he loved the fact he wouldn't need to be any sort of leader on that team. He's sort of like Moses Malone imo in that regard who is also top 20-25 all time. Personally I don't see KD as real top 15 material. He's just outside. I'd rather have Dirk for 15 years than KD.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

KD is currently Top 18 and deserves it. The problem with not winning now is he is going to be passed up by a lot of people in his own generation: Curry, Paul (if he gets to the finals again), Giannis, and Jokic right behind. He could be looking at outside the top 20 by the time he enters the Hall. Still a hell of a career but I thought he would crack the Top 10.

[Patches Perry]

LeGaCy.

I'm really starting to hate that word. I'm no KD stan, but I'm really sick of the constant ESPN-esque critique of players careers compared to others, or what someone is expected to do or not. Who cares man.

Also, he has 2 rings.

I'm fine with legacy talk, but the constant need to contextualize every little thing that happens is annoying. As a general rule, anything that happens in 1 series is not going to move the needle much for a long career body of work.

[Dominator83]

No pressure. He's already cemented quite a legacy for himself

[Raps in 4]

This topic will get so much juicier if the warriors go on to win the title

I mean, the Warriors already won a title without that fraud. But it would be amazing if they won it again this year with KD getting swept in the first round.

[WintaSoldier1]

Some Truth Some Lie in this, KD still has 2 Chips at the end of the Day.

Even if the value of those Rings are lower then Others, He still has a ring.

[Raps in 4]

LeGaCy.

I'm really starting to hate that word. I'm no KD stan, but I'm really sick of the constant ESPN-esque critique of players careers compared to others, or what someone is expected to do or not. Who cares man.

Also, he has 2 rings.

He won 2 rings as the second option on a team with 4 all-stars lol.

The dude has been compared to Lebron his whole career by the media. He's not even in the same stratosphere. KD's best historic comp is Scottie Pippen.

[SpreeChokeJob]

KD’s legacy...

Watch on YouTube

[WarriorGM]

I still wouldn't be surprised if Durant and the Nets pull it out even if it would be the first time ever for a team to come back from 0-3 if that were to happen.

[dc]

Dude, the guy is 33 and came off an Achilles tear. He's a far better player than Dirk/Duncan/Kobe at the same ages of those guys. Nobody would be saying anything bad about the guy if he just wound up being a shell of former himself after his injury. They'd just be saying "Well, KD just ain't the same after the achilles", as most basketball players are after achilles tears.

The fact that he can still play at this level at his age after that kind of injury is remarkable. Besides, Durant didn't really put any pressure on himself going to Brooklyn. He openly admitted his championship chances went down when he made his move.

[dc]

I still wouldn't be surprised if Durant and the Nets pull it out even if it would be the first time ever for a team to come back from 0-3 if that were to happen.

Not likely to happen. Putting Blake into the game today was a true sign of desperation (BTW, credit to him for playing hard and hitting a couple shots). I suppose Simmons in the game would've been desperation as well.

They don't seem to have any real response for the Celts D.

[Doranku]

KD's legacy = Mr. Unreliable without a 73 win team behind him. That legacy has been reaffirmed in these playoffs.

[Balls Deep]

Agreed. His legacy was put on life support after he joined the Warriors and stole 2 rings. Losing this series while playing like dog sh*t will pull the plug.

[imDatknicksTape]

so every1 forgot he singlehandlely almost beat the bucks lastyr?
if his foot wasnt so damn big he would of been in finals

[Woodsanity]

His legacy of 2 cupcake rings isn't worth squat.