The Kevin Durant Thread (2016 - 17 Pt. 1)

[PCProductions]

I wonder if people feel the same about Andre Iguodala's move to GSW as they do about KD's.

[StepBackCrack]

You know what tho, the great thing is that both Curry and Durant don't give a crap about "who is the man?!" of the team. Both are unselfish superstars who are down to earth. Klay already said that's its great seeing how Durant isn't arrogant at all despite being so successful. If Durant had a big ego or felt the need to be "alpha" of the team, he would ruin this team for sure but he doesn't (thank God). He is a great teammate according to the players that play with him atm. The players that know him better than any of us.

That's what the teammates of all stars say while they are on the same team almost every time. It's basic PR and it's often a lie. It's probably true in this case, but far from certain.

Fair enough but I'd rather believe what the players say about each other than believe what fans assume about them. I really don't think Curry or Durant care much about "being the man" on this team. They realize this is a team sport and none is above the team. I mean Curry really wanted Durant on the team and literally said to him that he doesn't mind him winning MVP over him at all. Does that make Steph a weak superstar? For those fans who are obsessed with "alpha mentality", probably yes and I do find quite ridiculous tbh. There is nothing wrong in wanting to play with another superstar. To me that shows that Curry is the kind of superstar any player would love to play with. He is far from being arrogant in real life and is all about the team spirit. Same with Durant. They will get along very well I believe.

Btw, I could be wrong on some of the things I said but I do need a proof to see before I say I was wrong. If Curry or Durant end up being unhappy in the future due to whatever reason, then I'll admit I was wrong.

[SideshowBob]

I wonder if people feel the same about Andre Iguodala's move to GSW as they do about KD's.

I certainly do. Though my excitement for Durant's move was greater.

[PCProductions]

I wonder if people feel the same about Andre Iguodala's move to GSW as they do about KD's.

I certainly do. Though my excitement for Durant's move was greater.

Well said.

[nbafan77]

LeBron went to the best situation available at that time WITHOUT sacrificing salary. He couldn't go to Boston and expecting a high salary. Durant did the same thing but yeah the team he went to happens to be a better team (thanks to the CBA rising). He got lucky in that aspect. However people really underestimate the value of the players GS gave up for him. Without Bogut, they would never be close to 73 wins. He was extremely valuable to the team. Plus awesome bench players like Barbosa. This current team won't win the title without Durant. If he gets injured they are in huge huge trouble. They need him and that alone makes him deserving of getting credit if they end up winning the title. And it's not like he is playing 2nd fiddle to Steph on the team. As I said before, at WORST, Durant will be treated equal to Curry on this team since both are extremely talented hardworking superstars. At best, he has an argument for the being the best player on the team of course and so far in the season he played like it. You know what tho, the great thing is that both Curry and Durant don't give a crap about "who is the man?!" of the team. Both are unselfish superstars who are down to earth. Klay already said that's its great seeing how Durant isn't arrogant at all despite being so successful. If Durant had a big ego or felt the need to be "alpha" of the team, he would ruin this team for sure but he doesn't (thank God). He is a great teammate according to the players that play with him atm. The players that know him better than any of us.

There is a huge difference between LBJ going to the Heat and Durant to the GSW. Durant was up 3-1 the conference finals against GSW and because of his chock job performances in game 5,6 and 7 they lost to the GSW then he decided to join the same team that already beat you ! If you can't beat them then join them.


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[Asianiac_24]

Except again, it was still a 47 win team. To add, Lebron went to a team where he was the best talent, coming off his own MVP instead of joining the reigning 2 time MVP. To add to that, that Miami team never had any interaction with the Cavs in the post season. To add to that, even if you want to assume Bosh were on Miami that is still not a 73 win team. To add to THAT that Miami team didn't have as good a roster outside those big 3. To add to THAT the Cavs team Lebron left was worse than this OKC team. To add to THAT that Miami team hadn't won recent titles, hence the idea of riding along for rings.

I mean, the differences aren't just minor quibbles. They're gaping chasms. To ignore them is fine, but realize they're there to the vast majority of people.

Except that 47 win team wasn't the team he joined. He joined the 47 win team that also added a 25/10 perennial all star big man. I don't know why this is such a hard concept to accept for so many people. LeBron joined Dwyane Wade who was a Finals MVP and a top 3 player, who was about the same level of player as Stephen Curry. Just because he didn't win the MVP doesn't make him any less of a player.

What they both did are bad for competition and IMO should be frowned upon. No need to suger coat for LeBron just because KD joined a team even better than the one he joined.

[PCProductions]

Yeah, I mean, it's all hypocrisy, the hate. And the gymnastics done to separate this from what Lebron did are remarkable. It's all garbage as a criticism of either player. If the management team had acquired the players, no one would have said anything, and that right there makes any criticism of the player foolish and hypocritical. You want to win, you need talent... so you pursue the best talent.

Loyalty is laudable, and everything, but the team can turn and trade a player at any time, and if you've already put in a whole pile of years, then your loyalty obligation (if there even is one in the first place) is well and done after 7-9 seasons of basketball. For both fo these players, it's just... I dunno. It's a WWE narrative, is all. Same stuff, just trying to generate conflict, interest, rabid fandom for the sake of ratings, etc.

As far as the player is concerned, he should absolutely want the best chance to win, and that's what he's gone and found for himself. I'm going to enjoy watching him click with the Warriors. Frankly, I hope he beats the ever-loving hell out of the Cavs in the Finals this year, with him and Steph dueling for Finals MVP. I was rooting for the Warriors last year, though it was sort of win-win for me because I like Lebron. Should be fun.

I think people should accept that the only real difference between the two is the emotional investment in the respective player prior to each's decision. It's weird to criticize Cleveland fans for jersey burning while denouncing KD for effectively the same move without the national TV announcement. Any further evaluation separating the two is simply resigning to bias.

[totallystoked]

Durant looks like he wants to be the MVP this year.

[Ron Swanson]

I don't think the idea of Durant joining the Warriors is the biggest annoyance for people (at least for me it isn't). I think it's how he subsequently rationalized it to the media and his own inner circle. From the Rolling Stone interview were he implied that OKC favored youth over veterans and didn't surround him with the right "culture" and talent to win (really dude?). To the quote were he basically said he had his mind made up the second they lost in the WCF and imagined "all the easy layups" he'd get with GS. To him being almost obnoxiously defensive about the decision and for some reason not expecting the criticism he's gotten over it.

Now, the **** talking to his former team when he's the guy that left, and he's starting to take this whole "haters gonna hate" attitude way too overboard, when he's the guy who's pretty much brought this all on himself. I'd like KD a whole lot more if he just owned up to it and accepted the fact that people are never going to consider him amongst the all-time greats if he only wins championships with Golden State. I don't know how any rational basketball fan can compare what he did to what Lebron did. It's night and day.

[bondom34]

Except again, it was still a 47 win team. To add, Lebron went to a team where he was the best talent, coming off his own MVP instead of joining the reigning 2 time MVP. To add to that, that Miami team never had any interaction with the Cavs in the post season. To add to that, even if you want to assume Bosh were on Miami that is still not a 73 win team. To add to THAT that Miami team didn't have as good a roster outside those big 3. To add to THAT the Cavs team Lebron left was worse than this OKC team. To add to THAT that Miami team hadn't won recent titles, hence the idea of riding along for rings.

I mean, the differences aren't just minor quibbles. They're gaping chasms. To ignore them is fine, but realize they're there to the vast majority of people.

Except that 47 win team wasn't the team he joined. He joined the 47 win team that also added a 25/10 perennial all star big man. I don't know why this is such a hard concept to accept for so many people. LeBron joined Dwyane Wade who was a Finals MVP and a top 3 player, who was about the same level of player as Stephen Curry. Just because he didn't win the MVP doesn't make him any less of a player.

What they both did are bad for competition and IMO should be frowned upon. No need to suger coat for LeBron just because KD joined a team even better than the one he joined.

Not sugar coating, but it isn't the same. He was still the number 1 on Miami.

[MisterHibachi]

Yeah, I mean, it's all hypocrisy, the hate. And the gymnastics done to separate this from what Lebron did are remarkable. It's all garbage as a criticism of either player. If the management team had acquired the players, no one would have said anything, and that right there makes any criticism of the player foolish and hypocritical. You want to win, you need talent... so you pursue the best talent.

Loyalty is laudable, and everything, but the team can turn and trade a player at any time, and if you've already put in a whole pile of years, then your loyalty obligation (if there even is one in the first place) is well and done after 7-9 seasons of basketball. For both fo these players, it's just... I dunno. It's a WWE narrative, is all. Same stuff, just trying to generate conflict, interest, rabid fandom for the sake of ratings, etc.

As far as the player is concerned, he should absolutely want the best chance to win, and that's what he's gone and found for himself. I'm going to enjoy watching him click with the Warriors. Frankly, I hope he beats the ever-loving hell out of the Cavs in the Finals this year, with him and Steph dueling for Finals MVP. I was rooting for the Warriors last year, though it was sort of win-win for me because I like Lebron. Should be fun.

I think people should accept that the only real difference between the two is the emotional investment in the respective player prior to each's decision. It's weird to criticize Cleveland fans for jersey burning while denouncing KD for effectively the same move without the national TV announcement. Any further evaluation separating the two is simply resigning to bias.

I disagree. I think him joining the team that beat him is an important note to consider. Other than that, it's very similar to LeBron's decision.

I'm certainly not rooting for him or his team, but man he's been on fire to start the season. Can't wait for the Christmas game.

[ProfessorJM]

LeBron went to the best situation available at that time WITHOUT sacrificing salary. He couldn't go to Boston and expecting a high salary. Durant did the same thing but yeah the team he went to happens to be a better team (thanks to the CBA rising). He got lucky in that aspect. However people really underestimate the value of the players GS gave up for him. Without Bogut, they would never be close to 73 wins. He was extremely valuable to the team. Plus awesome bench players like Barbosa. This current team won't win the title without Durant. If he gets injured they are in huge huge trouble. They need him and that alone makes him deserving of getting credit if they end up winning the title. And it's not like he is playing 2nd fiddle to Steph on the team. As I said before, at WORST, Durant will be treated equal to Curry on this team since both are extremely talented hardworking superstars. At best, he has an argument for the being the best player on the team of course and so far in the season he played like it. You know what tho, the great thing is that both Curry and Durant don't give a crap about "who is the man?!" of the team. Both are unselfish superstars who are down to earth. Klay already said that's its great seeing how Durant isn't arrogant at all despite being so successful. If Durant had a big ego or felt the need to be "alpha" of the team, he would ruin this team for sure but he doesn't (thank God). He is a great teammate according to the players that play with him atm. The players that know him better than any of us.

I agree with you personally but I think the media and much of the general public will view him on some level as just overkill on an already gifted team, and even possibly that Golden State could have won just as easily if they had just kept the team they had last year.

[PCProductions]

I disagree. I think him joining the team that beat him is an important note to consider. Other than that, it's very similar to LeBron's decision.

I'm certainly not rooting for him or his team, but man he's been on fire to start the season. Can't wait for the Christmas game.

Yeah he's been great, definitely nice for us Warriors fans to see him comfortable right away.

As far as KD's decision vs Lebron's decision, I have a ton to say about it but will spare people the wall of text but I defended Lebron's decision and think that people who did should feel the same about KD's. Any distinction between the two is splitting hairs if you ask me.

[ProfessorJM]

Yeah, I mean, it's all hypocrisy, the hate. And the gymnastics done to separate this from what Lebron did are remarkable. It's all garbage as a criticism of either player. If the management team had acquired the players, no one would have said anything, and that right there makes any criticism of the player foolish and hypocritical. You want to win, you need talent... so you pursue the best talent.

Loyalty is laudable, and everything, but the team can turn and trade a player at any time, and if you've already put in a whole pile of years, then your loyalty obligation (if there even is one in the first place) is well and done after 7-9 seasons of basketball. For both fo these players, it's just... I dunno. It's a WWE narrative, is all. Same stuff, just trying to generate conflict, interest, rabid fandom for the sake of ratings, etc.

As far as the player is concerned, he should absolutely want the best chance to win, and that's what he's gone and found for himself. I'm going to enjoy watching him click with the Warriors. Frankly, I hope he beats the ever-loving hell out of the Cavs in the Finals this year, with him and Steph dueling for Finals MVP. I was rooting for the Warriors last year, though it was sort of win-win for me because I like Lebron. Should be fun.

I think people should accept that the only real difference between the two is the emotional investment in the respective player prior to each's decision. It's weird to criticize Cleveland fans for jersey burning while denouncing KD for effectively the same move without the national TV announcement. Any further evaluation separating the two is simply resigning to bias.

I understand this logic completely, but I just think it's significant that Durant joined the team that just beat him. I think it does say something about him, but I think a lot more of the negativity towards him is partially fans upset that the Warriors are getting overkill in talent. If he had joined 28 other possible teams not named OKC, I think there is a difference in perception and the reaction for many fans. I'll always cheer for Durant no matter what (I am a UT-Austin grad and I bleed orange first) but I can understand why he will be cast as a villian this year.

What if Michael Jordan had joined the Pistons? LeBron to the Celtics?

[MisterHibachi]

I disagree. I think him joining the team that beat him is an important note to consider. Other than that, it's very similar to LeBron's decision.

I'm certainly not rooting for him or his team, but man he's been on fire to start the season. Can't wait for the Christmas game.

Yeah he's been great, definitely nice for us Warriors fans to see him comfortable right away.

As far as KD's decision vs Lebron's decision, I have a ton to say about it but will spare people the wall of text but I defended Lebron's decision and think that people who did should feel the same about KD's. Any distinction between the two is splitting hairs if you ask me.

I don't think there's anything to defend. He made his decision, that's his right. Just like with LeBron, people will come around on him. I think most of the hate is just the fact that he's on the Warriors now. The Warriors built a big hater-base last year and Durant is caught up in that. If he had went to any other team, I doubt he would see this much hate. So that kinda shows it's not really him, it's his team people dislike. Or maybe that's just me projecting. I rooted for him at times last year, not doing it this year just because he's on the Warriors, which shouldn't be a shock since I'm a LeBron fan

[PCProductions]

I disagree. I think him joining the team that beat him is an important note to consider. Other than that, it's very similar to LeBron's decision.

I'm certainly not rooting for him or his team, but man he's been on fire to start the season. Can't wait for the Christmas game.

Yeah he's been great, definitely nice for us Warriors fans to see him comfortable right away.

As far as KD's decision vs Lebron's decision, I have a ton to say about it but will spare people the wall of text but I defended Lebron's decision and think that people who did should feel the same about KD's. Any distinction between the two is splitting hairs if you ask me.

I don't think there's anything to defend. He made his decision, that's his right. Just like with LeBron, people will come around on him. I think most of the hate is just the fact that he's on the Warriors now. The Warriors built a big hater-base last year and Durant is caught up in that. If he had went to any other team, I doubt he would see this much hate. So that kinda shows it's not really him, it's his team people dislike. Or maybe that's just me projecting. I rooted for him at times last year, not doing it this year just because he's on the Warriors, which shouldn't be a shock since I'm a LeBron fan

This feels pretty accurate.

[HeartBreakKid]

I disagree. I think him joining the team that beat him is an important note to consider. Other than that, it's very similar to LeBron's decision.

I'm certainly not rooting for him or his team, but man he's been on fire to start the season. Can't wait for the Christmas game.

Yeah he's been great, definitely nice for us Warriors fans to see him comfortable right away.

As far as KD's decision vs Lebron's decision, I have a ton to say about it but will spare people the wall of text but I defended Lebron's decision and think that people who did should feel the same about KD's. Any distinction between the two is splitting hairs if you ask me.

I don't think there's anything to defend. He made his decision, that's his right. Just like with LeBron, people will come around on him. I think most of the hate is just the fact that he's on the Warriors now. The Warriors built a big hater-base last year and Durant is caught up in that. If he had went to any other team, I doubt he would see this much hate. So that kinda shows it's not really him, it's his team people dislike. Or maybe that's just me projecting. I rooted for him at times last year, not doing it this year just because he's on the Warriors, which shouldn't be a shock since I'm a LeBron fan

I mean no other team has won 73 games, so that's kind of a no duh Hibachi.


James and Durant's decisions really are not that similar, you would have ignore nearly all context to say that they were.

[MisterHibachi]

Yeah he's been great, definitely nice for us Warriors fans to see him comfortable right away.

As far as KD's decision vs Lebron's decision, I have a ton to say about it but will spare people the wall of text but I defended Lebron's decision and think that people who did should feel the same about KD's. Any distinction between the two is splitting hairs if you ask me.

I don't think there's anything to defend. He made his decision, that's his right. Just like with LeBron, people will come around on him. I think most of the hate is just the fact that he's on the Warriors now. The Warriors built a big hater-base last year and Durant is caught up in that. If he had went to any other team, I doubt he would see this much hate. So that kinda shows it's not really him, it's his team people dislike. Or maybe that's just me projecting. I rooted for him at times last year, not doing it this year just because he's on the Warriors, which shouldn't be a shock since I'm a LeBron fan

I mean no other team has won 73 games, so that's kind of a no duh Hibachi.


James and Durant's decisions really are not that similar, you would have ignore nearly all context to say that they were.

True, no team won 73 games, but if Durant joined the Spurs would he really get a lot of hate? Spurs are almost universally liked.

And the main difference in my opinion is that KD joined the team who beat him. LeBron wouldn't have joined the Celtics even if they had the cap room.

[HeartBreakKid]

I don't think there's anything to defend. He made his decision, that's his right. Just like with LeBron, people will come around on him. I think most of the hate is just the fact that he's on the Warriors now. The Warriors built a big hater-base last year and Durant is caught up in that. If he had went to any other team, I doubt he would see this much hate. So that kinda shows it's not really him, it's his team people dislike. Or maybe that's just me projecting. I rooted for him at times last year, not doing it this year just because he's on the Warriors, which shouldn't be a shock since I'm a LeBron fan

I mean no other team has won 73 games, so that's kind of a no duh Hibachi.


James and Durant's decisions really are not that similar, you would have ignore nearly all context to say that they were.

True, no team won 73 games, but if Durant joined the Spurs would he really get a lot of hate? Spurs are almost universally liked.

And the main difference in my opinion is that KD joined the team who beat him. LeBron wouldn't have joined the Celtics even if they had the cap room.

I think even if the Warriors were a well liked team, Durant would have taken just as much flack. On paper, he essentially made the season a waste, he joined a team that was favored to win a title.

The Spurs are contenders, but they're not favorites, and were upset by OKC, so in hindsight no one would think that Durant joining them would be unfair. He would take flack for leaving his team, but at the very least the Spurs would be on more even grounds with Warriors and Cavs (or slight favorites perhaps).

Durant leaving to GSW, destroyed the contender-ship of an existing team (OKC) to further strengthen the favorites of another team (GSW). The next few seasons are basically going to be people watching just to see if GSW will beat the field or not, even by basketball standards this is some all time low parity (potentially).

It would be a bit more similar if James had left and joined the Lakers, except the Lakers were nowhere near as highly rated in their time as the Curry era Warriors are now.


Also, James really took a lot of heat because he was the flagship of the NBA, and the team he left was his hometown. People were more appalled by James betraying the Cavs than Durant was betraying OKC, and some of that also has to do with the fact that at the very least OKC still has Westbrook to fall back on. James was Cleveland. James criticism actually was unfair, because a lot of it came because this was a time when millennials were pushing the idea that James was better than Jordan and Bryant, so any sign of weakness or shortcoming was amplified significantly from 2009-2012 by Jordan/Bryant fans (which is the majority of basketball fans in the world). KD to this day, still has nothing like that, this is pretty much the first time in KD's career that he will have serious expectations where he will suffer media consequences for coming up short.

[PaulieWal]

I don't know if I can articulate exactly why I feel this way, but watching Durant scream and talk **** after blocking Westbrook's layup was like a punch in the gut. You can't claim to take the high road and take shots at the media for manufacturing drama and then do something like this. It was a pretty classless move and you'd think after all those years together he'd have some more respect for the guys he fought with.

I don't know. I think I'm firmly Team Russ after that.

I know those feels, dude. Like I totally get it he went to a better team and all that and this move vs. the Decision move has been compared to death. I feel that LeBron left Cleveland to play with a Wade type of player, KD left a Wade type player to go play with another Wade type of player + Klay (the guy who killed them in game 6 with video game cheese) + Draymond + Iggy (the guy who gave him fits in that series defensively) + Livingston.

While it's great for OKC fans that Russ extended with them and I am glad he stayed but I really, really hope that Presti is able to pull some trade or FA signing which makes OKC at least a perennial WCF contender for the rest of GOAT's prime.