It’s been leaked Kevin Durant will announce his decision sometime later today whether he remains with the Thunder or joins the All-Star Warriors and thus gives the NBA a defacto Cleveland vs. Golden State finals once again next June and possibly beyond.
Consider this–if Durant hooks up with the Warriors there’s basically only two teams in the league who can win the title…the Cavs and Warriors. There were four when this past season began with Cleveland, Golden State, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio.
Creating a dynasty is one thing, but eliminating pretty much all competitive drama is something else. Why even bother to watch until June? Think about how boring the Eastern Conference Playoffs are every year with LeBron’s predictable ascension to the Finals. This hasn’t been the case in the West where the Spurs, the Thunder, and the Warriors have slugged it out with some great basketball which has carried fan interest.
This won’t be the case if Durant takes the easy route to winning a championship by hooking up with Curry, Thompson, the crotch magnet, and Iguodala. This will basically be like watching two super nova travel little league teams with some daddies with deep pockets pretty much buying a sure thing.
Building a dynasty in today’s financial conditions isn’t easy in the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB. Fans generally enjoy some competitive parity. The Chicago Blackhawks are somewhat a mini dynasty in the NHL, but they didn’t advance to the Stanley Cup Finals this season. The San Francisco Giants are another mini dynasty in major league baseball winning three championships in the last five seasons. LeBron’s Heat team did win two titles in a row before losing to the Spurs in 2014. But even in listing these three examples of mini dynasties–there’s always been great competitive drama and excitement in watching because it wasn’t just the same two teams playing for the title every season.
If you think I’m going over the top here please tell which of the other 28 NBA teams has a legitimate shot next season if Durant hooks up with the Splash Brothers, Iggy, and the crotch magnet. Who would Jerry West covet later on…maybe Kawhi Leonard?
This goes beyond me as a Thunder fan not wanting to lose Kevin Durant. It goes to the heart of the NBA as a league having any competitive legitimacy if Durant joins the Warriors to create this super team.
I’d never hate Kevin Durant for leaving for the Warriors because he’s been such a class guy and I love the things he said to his mother in that MVP speech, but I’ll admit it would diminish the way I view his legacy for this simple reason. Sam Presti has put enough around Durant for him to win a championship, and let’s be totally candid in closing–when OKC had the Warriors down 3-1 all Durant and Westbrook have to do is close out Game 6 at home and this conversation isn’t even taking place.
Call me old school, call me whatever you might, but the thought of Durant joining the super Warriors to create an easier path to a championship would be pretty weak from my perspective.
Dirk didn’t leave the Mavs after losing in the 2006 Finals to Dwayne Wade and the LeBronless Heat. Instead–he came back and carried the Mavs to their only world championship in 2011 by beating the LeBron anchored Heat.
To me, this is what sports should be all about. Redemption, hanging in there, overcoming your inner mental demons, and becoming the best because you are the best instead of some little league daddy just buying you a trophy to pad his ego.
Note to Kevin Durant–Dustin Johnson won at Firestone yesterday for his second win in two weeks. And you know what, never once did we see Steph, Klay, or the crotch magnet putting for him.
I’m fairly certain Jerry West never said anything close to this in his Saturday call to Kevin Durant.
If Durant left to join the Celtics you wouldn’t hear a peep from me. He’d be going to a young team where he would the cornerstone of the franchise. I could admire that. It would still hurt–but I could admire it from a competitive standpoint.
Hopefully, Kevin Durant has some old school in him.