RealGM

Let's say he leads them to a championship next year and is finals MVP. How much of a legacy enhancer would it be?

It would be huge for him. I’m just not sure he is, or ever was, capable.

Real question is how much did his legacy take a hit with the absolute failure of Phoenix?

Only place he hasn’t been a huge disappointment in the playoffs is GS, when teams were more scared of a Curry 3 than a KD dunk.

he'd pass Giannis

Top 15 of AT, arguably top 12.

He’d be a 3x champ and 3x finals MVP, it would be very validating for him his time away from Golden State.

A title as the clear best player would go a long way for Durant.

it would depend on the manner in which it happened. if KD goes off, averages 30ppg and HOU overcomes teams like DEN/OKC/LAC/GSW in the process on the strength of KD's scoring then its huge for his legacy. but if they squeak by, have a chill bracket bc of other teams getting injured or whatever, and they happen to be the last team standing, then maybe not so much.

With guys that are well liked, fans give them the benefit of the doubt. With guys like KD who in general people have soured on, unless he earns it unquestionably, I feel like it wouldnt be appreciated. there are still people that think KD wasn't that important to the GSW teams he was on, despite how awesome he was.

I think in the somewhat unlikely case that HOU gets a chip next year, we'll have threads here like "was it KD or was it the defense/rebounding" and "HOU fouls every possession did KD even matter" and such. bc remember HOU plays a lot like OKC in terms of effort and physicality just without the same level of offensive talent.

It would be huge for him. But there's no chance of it happening.

Effigy wrote:It would be huge for him. But there's no chance of it happening.

Ya, I think people are kidding themselves. Revisit this if and when Houston actually makes it to the finals. Until then I don't believe he'll be capable of hitting that gear for a full playoff run.

It would do much, much more for him than his current 2 titles.

Cavsfansince84 wrote:

Effigy wrote:It would be huge for him. But there's no chance of it happening.

Ya, I think people are kidding themselves. Revisit this if and when Houston actually makes it to the finals. Until then I don't believe he'll be capable of hitting that gear for a full playoff run.

Yeah, they don't feel as if they have enough O in the playoffs to win it even after the trade. They'll be good, but relying on a 37 year-old who isn't Lebron as like the sole source of reliable, efficient offense isn't likely the way.

But they should be fun to watch and a lot better than this year. And if somehow I'm wrong, that's awesome for Houston, and indeed, for Durant's legacy.

Cavsfansince84 wrote:

Effigy wrote:It would be huge for him. But there's no chance of it happening.

Ya, I think people are kidding themselves. Revisit this if and when Houston actually makes it to the finals. Until then I don't believe he'll be capable of hitting that gear for a full playoff run.

i dont think they are a championship team right now but Houston still has room to make more moves. If they give PHX all their picks back in exchange for Booker they are a legit title contender

Enhanced quite massively but zero chance it happens. Significantly better players than Durant all time have failed to do such things at the age of 37, going to a brand new team with zero continuity at that.

West will be your usual contenders - OKC at the top with some mix of Denver, LAL, Golden State and Minnesota.

If he is the primary weapon it will completely change the scope of his career. He would be a hero in Texas and they would retire him a Rocket. No one would remember the 2017 incident

He won't so don't waste time thinking about it.

Shock Defeat wrote:Let's say he leads them to a championship next year and is finals MVP. How much of a legacy enhancer would it be?

KD’s legacy is set. He’s a hired gun. HOF offensive player, one of the greats of all time but not good enough to lead his own team.

In my opinion, it changes pretty much nothing. He's already an all time great, first ballot hall of famer, and an NBA champion. Why should this enhance or diminish his image any?

It's a shame our owner was stupid and made some mistakes with the Beal thing and then compounding it by dangling Durant's name out there for trade last season which immediately damaged the relationship. It's also a shame our owner is our owner, seeing he wasted TONS of resources to get Durant in the first place and then send him off two seasons later because it wasn't ever going to work.

Winning his first championship would definitely boost him.

It’s over for Kevin “GOAT” Durant. Then again, it’s the end of an era for LeBron, Curry, etc, in terms of winning another championship.