Bill Russell won nine championships in eleven seasons with good players around him every season. Michael won six championships with Scottie Pippen. Kareem won six rings with good players around him both at Milwaukee and with the Lakers. Same thing with Kobe as he won five championships in his storied career, but always with good players around him.
So I’ve come to the conclusion there’s no reason for Kevin Durant to leave the Warriors especially since the national narrative has changed after witnessing the meltdown in Oklahoma City these past two seasons where Russell Westbrook and Paul George won a combined three post season games in eleven played.
The national narrative is now strong that Kevin Durant was smart to leave the culture in Oklahoma City.
Why should he have stayed? Why was any of this on Durant and why shouldn’t it be on Sam Presti and Russell Westbrook instead for not doing the things to end a failed culture in Oklahoma City?
Kevin Durant should stay put and keep winning rings. If he stays healthy—who knows–maybe he could make a run at Bill Russell?
He lives in a great city which hates Donald Trump and has a coach who speaks his mind. Not that basketball decisions should be based on your fanbase hating Donald Trump or David Duke or some other knuckleheads you’ll find in a Trump region. But when you’re at that level in your profession…why play in front of a fanbase which by a 70% margin voted for a racist when you can win historically big in front of people who have a little more ‘openness’ in the way they view the world. If I were a black star there’s no way I’d play in a Trump state. No way. Hell-if I were Durant the next time I played inside the Peake I’d wear a black glove and go all Carlos and Smith on them.
Study the history of Bill Russell with racism in Boston during his career there. Bill Russell was permanently scarred and bitter about how he was treated in Boston. He wouldn’t even allow his jersey retirement ceremony to be held openly in front of the fans…only in private. Think I’m kidding…read Gary Pomerantz’s great book The Last Pass and read for yourself.
There’s no reason for Durant to go play anywhere else now unless he just wants to experience another city for the sake of experiencing another city.
Given the thirty cities in the NBA right now…I can’t think of what city other than San Francisco that could possibly be.
Russell Westbrook and Sam Presti have made sure his legacy won’t be tarnished for leaving the Thunder to head to the Warriors. I can’t imagine Durant will ever be booed again in Oklahoma City or called Cup Cake even by the fat slob with the horn and no shirt under the basket.
Kevin Durant isn’t second anymore. He’s the best player in the world on the best team in one of the world’s best cities.
Kevin Durant should stay right where he is and chase Michael, Bill Russell, Kobe, and Kareem for his rightful place in the top ten of the Pantheon.
Why leave?