Kevin Durant responds to fans on Twitter about joining GSW (again)

[nfmos]

I always thought one of the main reasons KD joined the Warriors was that he was such a basketball addict that he saw what a "beautiful game" the Warriors played and he wanted to add his talents to a system like that and see if they could make a perfect team together.

The problem was that he was such a unstoppable scorer and had always been the person with the ball in his hands everywhere he played, that he never really adapted his game to the Warriors style. Everyone, especially Steph, adapted their games to accommodate KD because he was such a great weapon on offense, but the free flowing offense and constant movement and passing kind of took a step back. But it was ok because with that much talent on the floor, they could overwhelm other teams strictly on talent, and overall the team was still better regardless.

That sort of mentality and ability of course helped him and the team, and especially helped him stand out, especially in the finals when he got his mvps with big, one on one shots. But it also eventually led to the breakup of that team when he yelled at Draymond for the ball in the Dray blowup game. We had never had players in this system fight over the ball or yell at each other, and that just showed that even 3 years in, KD never fully accepted and bought into the system, it still had to be about him, just like it was in okc, and later in BK, even though that style hasnt led to championships yet for him.

So when i argue that Steph is more important, its because i know Steph is willing to buy into and model the attitude and behaviors it takes for a team to win a championship, while KD, still reverts to a hero ball mentality that is almost impossible to pull off a championship with. Steph is willing to share the spotlight if it helps the team and cedes ownership to teammates to help them gain confidence, while i think KD thinks its up to him to save the team, even if it creates a bunch of bystanders just standing back and marveling at him. With his comments, i dont think KD still understands why Steph has a ring on him and more finals appearances, he probably thinks its just because of his teammates instead of wondering how Steph has played such a big part in making the team so strong.

I know KD and others have made comments about KD having a statue too at Chase once he retires, but i honestly hope its just the core that has stayed loyal to the team, and not someone who just used us to get his rings and then bounced.

[turnmeup88]

Could be argued that Durant only got rings because of a new tv deal which increased the cap space of all teams on that summer and allowed him to have a number of options which probably would not have been available.

Crazy to think when you dig into it.

[Swift21]

Not surprising. It has to hurt watching his former team compete for a title while his current situation in Brooklyn is full of question marks.

[G R E Y]

If there's one pattern that keeps being reinforced it's that players teaming up with their beffies or insisting on forming superteams don't really know about team building and these can't replace or replicate proper chemistry and cohesion that a team with a solid culture has.

The value of team culture has waited patiently to be respected again and more teams are making it a priority rather than catering to demands of one or two players.

It's one of the great accomplishments of Team USA that so many stars bought in, led by KD, and were cohesive enough to peak at the most important time.

Culture can help get a team through rough patches of a season or through a couple of rough seasons. Lack of it makes teams fall apart from the inside out as we've seen with teams loaded with stars who failed.

Hopefully even stars themselves start realizing that right situation trumps power assertion.

[TeamTragic]

Three guarantees in life:

1. Death
2. Taxes
3. KD thread

[art_tatum]

Love it can't a man have a casual Convo on Twitter while being driven somewhere?

[zimpy27]

The Durant Warriors was the best team ever IMO. I can't imagine how any other team in history would beat that team when healthy. It was the Warriors system with a second KD iso system (ancillary scoring) and some third combo of both. It's

[TheWhiteMamba]

KD need to retire from social networks

[bbalnation]

Watch on YouTube

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/10037313-kevin-durant-responds-to-draymond-greens-comments-on-stephen-curry-100-false.amp.html

My assumption is that Kevin is/was responding to Draymonds recent podcast, where Draymond said that:

Steph Curry got double-teamed probably seven times the amount that KD did in a given series"

From what I remember of those Warriors teams, I agree with Kevin's basketball perspective.

The 2017 and 2018 Cavs game plan were centered on Steph imo. But I dont remember Playoff teams, including the Cavs, doubling Steph with KD, especially the way we're seeing teams guard the Warriors now (and in 2019 onward).

I dont observe or participate in social media these days, including Twitter. I avoid judging others for engaging and connecting with others in whatever manner they want to use it for.

I also avoid judging humans who can later earn $ and revenue from the increased Twitter engagement & following.

[lambchop]

I loathe KD going to the Warriors when he did, but people are acting like the Warriors win titles had KD not joined.
Could they have? Sure
But the Cavs and Rockets probably jump them if he's not there.

What about what actually happened makes you believe that the Rockets and Cavs would “probably have jumped GSW?”

This. It's basically still cavs-warriors finals for a while with alternating winners. Dubs get a bit stronger by replacing Barnes with a more serviceable SF though.

[Tacoma]

I don't know why you guys get butthurt if KD wants to interact with fans on Twitter. Who cares?

He does this all the time. Not just when the Warriors made the Finals.

Why does everyone have to be so fake and have perfectly curated social media profiles that only their PR reps handle? And think theyre too good to ever talk hoops with the average person.

No one is butthurt. We neither care more of less but this is a chat forum about all things basketball so it's fair game.

When a star responds defensively to fans being critical of him and "does this all the time," then he is in effect giving credence & legitimacy to that criticism, raising the level of that opinion against him & shedding light, which is the opposite to his intention.

[King4Day]

[/b]

What about what actually happened makes you believe that the Rockets and Cavs would “probably have jumped GSW?”

Rockets up 3-2. Paul misses game 6 and 7 due to hammy.
If KD is out, maybe Rockets don't lose that series or maybe it's not even that close to begin with. When you can't really double anyone, it makes everyone's play a lot more difficult to handle.

Cavs seemed to deflate after the JR Smith botched play. Win that and the whole series changes. No KD and it's a different story altogether. Again, assuming the Warriors even get there.

You have that GS was down 3-2 to the Rockets in the WCF. You also have what happened the following year in the 2nd round once KD got hurt.

You said the Rockets “probably” jump the W’s. I see little reason to consider that “probable” under the circumstances. I mean, does CP even go to Houston if Durant doesn’t sign with GS?

'Probably', 'might', 'could have'... who cares. Point is, Warriors would have been a worse team without KD. You don't take away a player who was arguably the best player in the game at the time (maybe, probably, could have been) and the Warriors are equally as favored to win a title. Teams catch up. The problem here was, teams tried to catch up but the Warriors got even better.

[PizzaSteve]

One would think being a key member of likely the greatest team ever assembled would provide some satisfaction, not angst. Glad he recovered from that horrible injury and still grateful for his efforts to play injured on a less deep warriors squad.

The 73 win team was dismantled. Barnes was gone, as were many if our amazing second unit. Sure the core remained, but lets be real, the team was a new team. KD had to do a lot to adjust, as did the rest of the guys. Many superteams fail and this one didnt largely due to Steph and KD working hard at it.

Joining the best team available to win chips is this generations' defining quality. LBJ did it multiple times, Kawhi did it, Harden and others tried. Its odd to get all KD is unique about it. He just stacked better due to a one time salary anomaly. Not his fault.

[Saberestar]

I don't know why you guys get butthurt if KD wants to interact with fans on Twitter. Who cares?

He does this all the time. Not just when the Warriors made the Finals.

Why does everyone have to be so fake and have perfectly curated social media profiles that only their PR reps handle? And think theyre too good to ever talk hoops with the average person.

This.

[iLLmatic860]

I don't know why you guys get butthurt if KD wants to interact with fans on Twitter. Who cares?

He does this all the time. Not just when the Warriors made the Finals.

Why does everyone have to be so fake and have perfectly curated social media profiles that only their PR reps handle? And think theyre too good to ever talk hoops with the average person.

This.

Nobody cares that he tweets all the time

We are just clowning him for being so mentally fragile when it comes to this discussion lol

Read on Twitter

?s=21&t=xQlnOBY6v5jWXDrQV5FFlQ

[Mamba Mentality]

Durant had it all - his own team, a massive following, and most importantly the respect of fans and peers alike. But he threw it all away to ring chase on the greatest team of all time. He can whine, gaslight, and take subtle jabs at the Warriors all he wants, but he's never going to win back his credibility. Every time he takes to Twitter to defend himself he just digs himself a deeper hole. Most sensitive athlete in professional sports history.

[Saberestar]

I don't know why you guys get butthurt if KD wants to interact with fans on Twitter. Who cares?

He does this all the time. Not just when the Warriors made the Finals.

Why does everyone have to be so fake and have perfectly curated social media profiles that only their PR reps handle? And think theyre too good to ever talk hoops with the average person.

This.

Nobody cares that he tweets all the time

We are just clowning him for being so mentally fragile when it comes to this discussion lol

Read on Twitter

?s=21&t=xQlnOBY6v5jWXDrQV5FFlQ

No, he is not mentally fragile at all.

Someone with that type of personality never would interact with fans regarding his performance. People with that problem hire a PR to manage all his social networks and stay away from reading anything about him.

Durant does it because he can take it and he enjoys it. He likes to talk about basketball like another fan, but he is an ATG too.

[Synciere]

I don't know why you guys get butthurt if KD wants to interact with fans on Twitter. Who cares?

He does this all the time. Not just when the Warriors made the Finals.

Why does everyone have to be so fake and have perfectly curated social media profiles that only their PR reps handle? And think theyre too good to ever talk hoops with the average person.

Facts! Fans want players to be perfect, not human.

He states my biggest issue with fans in that exchange too. With Golden State making it to the Finals, there's a whole lotta talk about where Steph falls in the all time rankings. People are real quick to discredit KD's rings, but then no one says Steph should only have one ring. If you discredit KD's rings because it was a stacked team, that means you discredit Steph's second and third chip. And Steph would take a mighty fall in the all time rankings if he only had one ring.

[JJ_PR]

KD makes Shaq look secure and self-assured. He can't stand that joining GS didn't do the same thing for his legacy that LeBron joining Miami did.

[trickshot]

It's honestly more surprising to see him deny Steph got more defensive attention. Don't think I ever heard anyone say this before now. Where did he think those open dunks came from? In the 18 finals Cavs straight up said their gameplan was to contain Curry.