Kevin Durant: The Greatest Disliked Player Of All Time?

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NBA

Kevin Durant Should Be Living The Good Life

Who has had a better two-year NBA run than Kevin Durant? A little more than a month ago, Durant hoisted his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP trophy to accompany the associated NBA Championship trophies. As an NBA player, what  could be more sublime?

For the average player enjoying this level of success, they would be on top of the world. However, that is not the case for Durant. Fans, media and fellow players widely view him as inferior to LeBron James. Most fans and some peers consider him a “snake”, complaining almost daily about how he killed the competition in the NBA when he joined the team that eliminated his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kevin Durant: The Selfless Servant

Durant’s image in the NBA wasn’t always negative. He was drafted second overall by the Seattle Supersonics in 2007 behind Greg Oden…yikes! How did that work out Portland? A year later, Seattle relocated their franchise to Oklahoma City, the smallest NBA market. In his third year, Durant signed a five year, $86 million extension to stay in the smallest market through 2016.

During those years, Durant would win the NBA Rookie of the Year, win four NBA Scoring Titles, receive an NBA MVP, be named to seven All Star Games, be named All Star MVP, and receive seven All NBA Selections. The one and only accolade he didn’t achieve as a member of the Thunder was NBA champion. The summer of 2016 gave him an opportunity to change that.

Durant Finally Made A Decision To Serve Himself

On July 4th, 2016, Durant essentially pressed the basketball Nuke button when he announced his intention to sign a contract with the Golden State Warriors. The sports world (fans and media) lost their collective minds. The most potent offensive weapon in the NBA was joining forces with two of the most prolific shooters in NBA history. The fallout has been devastating for the other 29 teams in the NBA and unfortunately his image.

The primary reason everyone melted down was because a few months prior to his announcement, Durant and the Thunder squandered a golden opportunity beat the 73-9 Warriors to go to the NBA Finals. The Thunder led the series 3-1, and then the wheels fell off the wagon.

Durant and his uber talented teammate, Russell Westbrook, could not figure out how to close out the Warriors. Both players struggled down the stretch in each of the three close-out games.

The Warriors figured out how to stymie the isolation games of Durant and Westbrook while shooting the lights out. The loss was devastating for the Thunder. Now Durant was leaving his team for the same team that broke their hearts.

The Price Of Winning Can Be Steep

For many, Durant’s decision to join the Warriors forever tainted his legacy as they viewed his move as one of a coward’s. He joined the very team that just eliminated him in an effort to increase his chances of winning championships. However, that is the cynical way to view it.

Durant’s move to the Warriors was actually very courageous considering the guaranteed outrage he predicted would ensue. Though self serving, it was the most basketball savvy move he could make if the objective was winning championships. He knew what he had with the Thunder. He knew Westbrook’s passion and breakneck pace could never pair with his skill set to beat the Warriors. This was his Ace move.

Sometimes The Grass Is Greener and Better…

Durant noticed something wonderful when he saw the Warriors play play. He looked across at the ball movement, passing, and wide open shots the Warriors deployed to mount their comeback and wanted some of that. He wanted to go to a system where he could increase his efficiency. He also wanted to enjoy playing the game with other guys who viewed the game as he does, free and fun. Also, he wanted to play in a large market with unlimited opportunity outside of basketball. He had established close bonds with Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala while traveling with Team USA, so yearned for brotherhood. He wanted all of that and the opportunity to win championships.

Mission Accomplished!

He did just that. Durant braved the criticism to lead a team with a back-to-back NBA MVP in Curry, an All-NBA shooting guard in Klay Thompson, and a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and former winner in Draymond Green. He joined that talent laden squad and was instantly the best player.

For the past two championships, Durant proved his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, while guarding any position on the floor. He was the difference in each of the last two NBA Finals against the best player in the world, and he outshined him both times. After the first Finals victory he claimed equal footing to LeBron:

Who Is This KD?

Earlier today, NBA Analyst Chris Broussard revealed Durant texted him and told him he wasn’t truly himself in Oklahoma City. He expressed the version we see now is who he authentically is. There’s a lot unpack there, but I’m an avid believer in letting people believe they are who they say they are. If this is who he is, I’m here for it!

Durant was a great basketball player for the Thunder and he’s also a great player for the Warriors as well. If he leaves the Warriors, he will be great for his next team and that city. He may be villified for this decision by his haters forever, so he should make himself happy from this point forward. If this is who he is, he needs to stay true to himself and ignore the slander.

Whatever You Do, Stay True

Durant is one of the greatest players in basketball history. He is a 6’11” basketball player with the deadliest offensive arsenal I’ve ever seen. He’s one of the two basketball unicorns playing and he is only 29 years of age.  Kevin, you’ve served Oklahoma City well. Don’t look back or feel bad for winning.

Kevin Wayne Durant, wherever you stay or go, or whatever you do, Do You!