Durant looks worse everytime he talks about his decision

[bondom34]

What part of

obviously, K.D. didn't make his concrete decision, but I think our organization knew for a while what was going to happen.

doesn't read like KD hadn't made a decision but the organization knew what they were going to do?

No idea.

[NW]

Dunno, but that's the way Bogut makes it sound.

Sorry oversensitive GSW folks. He's got the heart of a champion.

LOL! Oversensitive? Which one of us posted the link again? Guess he only has the heart of a champion if he stays in OKC

I'm pretty good w/ him at this point. I do find it a bit oversensitive the need for a fanbase to jump to "save" a player by standing up for him when he's been a bit...off.

He'd have had heart going to Boston by me as well. I'd be fine there. Or Miami. Or LA. Heck he literally went to the only team every OKC fan said would show no heart. And he did it.

But again the need for GSW fans to stand up for their hero is fine.

And yet, there's not a single KD thread without a significant amount of posts from you downing him. So how exactly is your rush to judge any different than Warriors fans rush to defend?

[bondom34]

And yet, there's not a single KD thread without a significant amount of posts from you downing him. So how exactly is your rush to judge any different than Warriors fans rush to defend?

I've made a few comments early itt. I was then quoted by multiple GSW fans. So would you prefer if I just don't respond to your entire fanbase? Because it makes my life easier tbh.

Just seems odd many seem to disagree with your side.

[NW]

What part of

obviously, K.D. didn't make his concrete decision, but I think our organization knew for a while what was going to happen.

doesn't read like KD hadn't made a decision but the organization knew what they were going to do?

No idea.

Happen as in they were going to pursue him. Were they hopeful? Sure. Knew for sure? No chance. Pretty clear Durant didn't know. Aren't you the one commenting on how easily he was swayed during the process?

[dc]

Dunno, but that's not the way it reads. You can feel that way, but not going to lie, there's a lot of non-GSW fans who frankly don't see it that way. I'm just leaving it here for others to read.

It's no secret KD liked the Warriors organization. Liked their core 3 and liked Kerr. That's basically what Woj's article stated; that they were the "most intriguing destination to him."

So Durant liking the Warriors and strongly considering them 6 months ago isn't some revelation. (Of course a lot of people back then still wouldn't believe it. Thought it was just Woj clickbait.)

But already deciding that he signing there and throwing a game so he could lose to them; that's a stretch. Even Bogut said "obviously K.D. didn't make his concrete decision".

[bondom34]

What part of doesn't read like KD hadn't made a decision but the organization knew what they were going to do?

No idea.

Happen as in they were going to pursue him. Were they hopeful? Sure. Knew for sure? No chance. Pretty clear Durant didn't know. Aren't you the one commenting on how easily he was swayed during the process?

Ah, see many don't read it that way. I'm guessing you see what you want huh.

Dunno, but that's not the way it reads. You can feel that way, but not going to lie, there's a lot of non-GSW fans who frankly don't see it that way. I'm just leaving it here for others to read.

It's no secret KD liked the Warriors organization. Liked their core 3 and liked Kerr. That's basically what Woj's article stated; that they were the "most intriguing destination to him."

So Durant liking the Warriors and strongly considering them 6 months ago isn't some revelation. (Of course a lot of people back then still wouldn't believe it. Thought it was just Woj clickbait.)

But already deciding that he signing there and throwing a game so he could lose to them; that's a stretch. Even Bogut said "obviously K.D. didn't make his concrete decision".

Except then continued to say GSW "knew".

Dunno, I'll let you guys debate others itt. I'm good here. Enjoy your season.

[StepBackCrack]

Yes we are witnessing the fall of greatness but Durant didn't choose to be great or put people on his back. He likes basketball and happens to be very good at it. The way he talks makes me feel he is driven by something external to himself, probably his mom but just general people. He's always been sensitive to outside criticism and it's obvious he really cares what other people think of him. He doesn't take criticism to drive himself to be better, it seems to affect him negatively. Truly I think he just wants to kick back without pressure and play the game he likes to play. Winning a championship will take the pressure off him and he can just go about making money and playing basketball.

This is the impression I get also. And honestly, that's all well and good. It just handicaps him severely in all-time discussions. He was a guy with potential to be a top 3 small forward ever (behind Bird and LeBron), and taking the easy route to chill, play ball and make money pushes him out of the top 5 SF discussions. As I've said in the past, maybe he doesn't care about that. I don't think he is a bad person by any stretch. Just a supremely talented basketball player with a personality that maybe doesn't fit the profession he is in. These were things that people once said about LeBron, so maybe Durant will change his course, but LeBron was always the best player on his team and it was never really that close. Who knows when the next time Durant will be the best player on his team will be.

lol at implying that he isn't capable of looking the best on his new team. I bet you wish him the worst with GSW but that's not gonna happen if he is healthy. He can fit perfectly there so we have to wait and see what happens. And btw, he is the greatest player on GSW's roaster (because he has been an elite player for a significantly longer period than Steph). Durant is blessed with height/athleticism that Steph doesn't have so his impact can be great on both ends in GSW. His combo of skill, height and athleticism makes him the most gifted player on Golden State for sure. So yeah, his potential is pretty high in GSW. In any case, I don't care about who will be the "alpha dog" on the team because I'm pretty sure none on GS cares about that crap. It's not in their culture which is great. They are all very unselfish players who play the right way and that what makes them very likable as a team. Durant clearly had enough with playing ISO ball with Russ in OKC and finally he will have more fun on court playing great team basketball in a much better system. It's a new great experience for him and he will never regret his choice.

[NW]

And yet, there's not a single KD thread without a significant amount of posts from you downing him. So how exactly is your rush to judge any different than Warriors fans rush to defend?

I've made a few comments early itt. I was then quoted by multiple GSW fans. So would you prefer if I just don't respond to your entire fanbase? Because it makes my life easier tbh.

Just seems odd many seem to disagree with your side.

*Gasp* there's lots of fans that disagree with KD going to GS - many of whom root for teams he turned down. Who would have thunk it?

So all your posts are responses to GS fans? Interesting

[bondom34]

And yet, there's not a single KD thread without a significant amount of posts from you downing him. So how exactly is your rush to judge any different than Warriors fans rush to defend?

I've made a few comments early itt. I was then quoted by multiple GSW fans. So would you prefer if I just don't respond to your entire fanbase? Because it makes my life easier tbh.

Just seems odd many seem to disagree with your side.

*Gasp* there's lots of fans that disagree with KD going to GS - many of whom root for teams he turned down. Who would have thunk it?

So all your posts are responses to GS fans? Interesting

Actually, yes. You're not one? Because everyone else itt has been one. Actually wait I replied to a single Magic fan about Lebron a few pages back, on an entirely different convo. But hey, like I said, enjoy your season, Durant can enjoy playing second fiddle to Curry. He hasn't been the best player in the league in a few years, now he's not even best on his own team.

Have a good one man, just enjoy your season.

[StepBackCrack]

Yeah, I bet he will be miserable playing "2nd fiddle". Poor Durant.

[Edrees]

Lol does anyone realize Shaq left a team that was even closer to a title to join Kobe and Phil jackson? Nobody even cares about that because he won 3 titles. You guys can keep telling yourself people will knock Durants legacy but Id bet alot of money if he wins two titles nobody will give a **** he joined the warriors.

[omerome]

I don't like this because this will continue to set a dangerous precedent moving forward. Once you're a free agent, I guess you should just look at the team with the best record and join up with them because otherwise, it'll just be a waste of time to compete.

Fans like competition. That's a big reason why we play and watch. If there are just super teams forming, it feels like the sports experience is being taken away. Fans feel cheated.

[kabstah]

Yes we are witnessing the fall of greatness but Durant didn't choose to be great or put people on his back. He likes basketball and happens to be very good at it. The way he talks makes me feel he is driven by something external to himself, probably his mom but just general people. He's always been sensitive to outside criticism and it's obvious he really cares what other people think of him. He doesn't take criticism to drive himself to be better, it seems to affect him negatively. Truly I think he just wants to kick back without pressure and play the game he likes to play. Winning a championship will take the pressure off him and he can just go about making money and playing basketball.

This is the impression I get also. And honestly, that's all well and good. It just handicaps him severely in all-time discussions. He was a guy with potential to be a top 3 small forward ever (behind Bird and LeBron), and taking the easy route to chill, play ball and make money pushes him out of the top 5 SF discussions. As I've said in the past, maybe he doesn't care about that. I don't think he is a bad person by any stretch. Just a supremely talented basketball player with a personality that maybe doesn't fit the profession he is in. These were things that people once said about LeBron, so maybe Durant will change his course, but LeBron was always the best player on his team and it was never really that close. Who knows when the next time Durant will be the best player on his team will be.

lol at implying that he isn't capable of looking the best on his new team. I bet you wish him the worst with GSW but that's not gonna happen if he is healthy. He can fit perfectly there so we have to wait and see what happens. And btw, he is the greatest player on GSW's roaster (because he has been an elite player for a significantly longer period than Steph). Durant is blessed with height/athleticism that Steph doesn't have so his impact can be great on both ends in GSW. His combo of skill, height and athleticism makes him the most gifted player on Golden State for sure. So yeah, his potential is pretty high in GSW. In any case, I don't care about who will be the "alpha dog" on the team because I'm pretty sure none on GS cares about that crap. It's not in their culture which is great. They are all very unselfish players who play the right way and that what makes them very likable as a team. Durant clearly had enough with playing ISO ball with Russ in OKC and finally he will have more fun on court playing great team basketball in a much better system. It's a new great experience for him and he will never regret his choice.

"Better" is a finicky word, but Steph Curry and Draymond Green will be more important than Kevin Durant to GSW next season. Curry because he can be the primary ball handler, and Green because he can be the defensive anchor at the 5 spot. If you want to draw a Heatles comparison, I think Durant is the Wade of the trio.

[dc]

I don't like this because this will continue to set a dangerous precedent moving forward. Once you're a free agent, I guess you should just look at the team with the best record and join up with them because otherwise, it'll just be a waste of time to compete.

Fans like competition. That's a big reason why we play and watch. If there are just super teams forming, it feels like the sports experience is being taken away. Fans feel cheated.

This is an anomaly. Teams with the best record typically don't have an MVP who is the 5th highest paid player on the team. That's pretty much what made this deal possible. If Curry was paid like an MVP, this probably doesn't even get off the ground.

[NZB2323]

Lol does anyone realize Shaq left a team that was even closer to a title to join Kobe and Phil jackson? Nobody even cares about that because he won 3 titles. You guys can keep telling yourself people will knock Durants legacy but Id bet alot of money if he wins two titles nobody will give a **** he joined the warriors.

When Shaq joined the Lakers the Lakers had not yet traded for a 17 year old Kobe Bryant as the 13th pick in the draft, and the Lakers wouldn't hire Phil Jackson for 2 more years. Shaq left a team that won 60 games, even with Shaq missing 28 games, while he was playing alongside fellow all-star Penny Hardaway, who made the all-NBA first team. Shaq joined a Lakers team that had no all-stars, and Del Harris as a head coach.

[Frank Dux]

Lol does anyone realize Shaq left a team that was even closer to a title to join Kobe and Phil jackson? Nobody even cares about that because he won 3 titles. You guys can keep telling yourself people will knock Durants legacy but Id bet alot of money if he wins two titles nobody will give a **** he joined the warriors.

You must be young because Phil was still with Chicago when Shaq came to L.A. Kobe was 17 and was just drafted.

Nick and Eddie were solid players, but Shaq didn't sign with a stacked team that was guaranteed a title, like Durant.

[NW]

Lol does anyone realize Shaq left a team that was even closer to a title to join Kobe and Phil jackson? Nobody even cares about that because he won 3 titles. You guys can keep telling yourself people will knock Durants legacy but Id bet alot of money if he wins two titles nobody will give a **** he joined the warriors.

When Shaq joined the Lakers the Lakers had not yet traded for a 17 year old Kobe Bryant as the 13th pick in the draft, and the Lakers wouldn't hire Phil Jackson for 2 more years. Shaq left a team that won 60 game, even with Shaq missing 28 games, while he was playing alongside fellow all-star Penny Hardaway, who made the all-NBA first team. Shaq joined a Lakers team that had no all-stars.

People forget that Shaq went to LA for non basketball reasons as winning was less a priority than movies and music. Caught hell for it. Now we boo guys who do take winning into account

[NW]

I don't like this because this will continue to set a dangerous precedent moving forward. Once you're a free agent, I guess you should just look at the team with the best record and join up with them because otherwise, it'll just be a waste of time to compete.

Fans like competition. That's a big reason why we play and watch. If there are just super teams forming, it feels like the sports experience is being taken away. Fans feel cheated.

Why do people act like KD went to GS because they were the best team. He had interest in GS long before that was the case

[DreDay]

I don't like this because this will continue to set a dangerous precedent moving forward. Once you're a free agent, I guess you should just look at the team with the best record and join up with them because otherwise, it'll just be a waste of time to compete.

Fans like competition. That's a big reason why we play and watch. If there are just super teams forming, it feels like the sports experience is being taken away. Fans feel cheated.

Why do people act like KD went to GS because they were the best team. He had interest in GS long before that was the case

What do you expect when a lot of people started paying attention to GSW only around 18 months ago?

[Asianiac_24]

Anyone can bash Durant except LeBron fans. The guy teamed up with a top 3 player and a 25/10 PF in the Eastern Conference to win, and when the two declined he jumps ship to join a top 5 PG and arguably the best big man in the league at the time.

He jumped ship to a team that didnt make playoffs, filled with players who havn't won anything substantial .

did you just call kevin love the best bigman in the league?

Kevin Love when the trade was made, was widely regarded as the best big man in the league here on RealGM. He came to a team which didn't make the playoffs, but had one of the best PGs in the league AND A #1 PICK IN THE DRAFT in the most hyped draft since maybe 2003, and wasn't really that great until they made a couple changes to the roster (most notably the Knicks trade for JR and Shumpert). Previous to that, he joined a top 3 player at worst in Dwyane Wade and a 25/10 big man in Bosh who were the two most sought after free agents, along with him, in the most stacked FA markets ever in the NBA. I fail to see how Durant is worse. LeBron is the one who started forming super teams left and right to win championships.