Grow Some Balls, Kevin Durant
Yesterday, in the middle of another work day so abhorrent I spent half the afternoon in the bathroom with supposed “diarrhea,” my pretend dysentery reading left me more disappointed than Dan after last night’s soccer game.
I’m talking, of course, about the wiry Oklahoma City “superstar” who’s never won anything since middle school not named Russell Westbrook. Kevin Durant, the consolation prize the year of the Greg Oden sweepstakes, has earned some relatively impressive individual honors in his nine NBA seasons.
For instance, KD is a former MVP, scoring champion, seven time All-Star, multiple time All-NBA (varying levels), and is considered the biggest obtainable free agent this offseason (LeBron is a free agent as well but there’s no way he “Decisions” himself again).
I’ve never really had a problem with Durant. Sure, the Thunder collapse in the 4th quarter, but he has seemed like a nice enough guy with obvious skills and a level of arrogance acceptable for a person of his immense wealth, accomplishments, and physical abilities.
Until now. Reading the Golden State Warriors are his “preferred destination this offseason” had me quivering like the a.m. discovery of last night’s blown out rubber. Really, KD? You’re so desperate for the imagined validation of a championship, and apparently at age 27 resigned to the fact you are not a player capable of winning with a roster featuring Westbrook, Kanter, Ibaka, Adams, Waiters, and plenty of cap space, that you have to get “I’m not a hooker, just a dancer” level desperate?
The Warriors were four points and the greatest LeBron performance ever from back-to-back championships. This is an absolute no-win situation. If KD goes to Golden State and they inevitably win a title (the lineup of Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green, Bogut, might be the best five in NBA history), obviously the prevailing sentiment will be “Yeah? So?”
But, if somehow they don’t, if Durant’s ball dominance gums up the gears of the Warriors motion offense, if the total lack of physicality of every player on the roster (especially Durant) not named Draymond kills them on the glass, or if James once again single-handedly provides salvation to the city of Cleveland like he was a water purification center in Angola, then what?
It will be Durant’s turn. His turn to hear how a team cannot win with Kevin Durant. “The Warriors were better before.” “He is not a closer.” “He is not clutch” In fairness, we already know this. “Durant ruined the Warriors.” “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but signing Kevin Durant was a mistake in the Bay.”
So where is the upside to any of this? The competition? The confidence in his own abilities and stature as an NBA superstar? I feel like I’m watching the early stages of a complete meltdown, like if someone could have said to Lindsey Lohan in a suite at the Chateau Marmont, mid blow bang of course, “Hey, maybe you should hike your panties up, close your mouth, and go home.” Maybe then this all could have been avoided. Maybe the avalanche doesn’t have to make it all the way down the mountain.
Kevin Durant is a likable enough guy. I don’t know who he has representing him or who’s in his inner circle, but if they’re advocating third-wheeling it in Golden State, I respect their opinion about as much as I do ISIS. There is nothing marketable about becoming the villain, the scapegoat of a would-be champion, the tagalong on the Warriors already-completed championship drive.
There is NOTHING about winning a title with a team that has come one Irving three from back-to-back championships that will enhance Durant’s legacy. Be a man, Kevin. Don’t be like me, the anonymous freelance writer that calls out people without any chance of repercussions.
If Kevin Durant becomes a Golden State Warrior, I’ll have to steal a line from essentially every woman I have ever dated: “You’re dead to me, asshole.”.
UPDATE: July 4, 2016, 11:26 a.m. CST
God dammit.
Image via YouTube
It really is phenomenal how his lack of success doesn’t come up more often. He’s a HOFer for sure, but no other superstar that in aware of has ever caught such little flak for not accomplishing shit. It’s the Bron effect. People can’t focus long enough to attack two people
9 years ago at 11:21 amIt’s really unbelievable. The last 5 years you could make a compelling argument that OKC has had two of the 5 best players in the world in the midst of their respective primes; an incredibly strong supporting cast ranging from borderline star (Harden for a few seasons, Ibaka, Reggie Jackson until mid 2015, Kanter, Adams on the lower end but still good.)
Yet, all they have to show for it is one horrific 4-1 whooping by the Heat and a slew of blown series + 4th quarter leads since.
Baffling.
9 years ago at 11:24 amThe core of Westbrook, Durant, and Ibaka has had exactly one fully healthy postseason since that trip to the Finals, and that was this past year. The fact that they beat the Spurs so convincingly and nearly took down the Warriors is a testament to just how good those 3 are, and Durant should really consider that. The way their offense gums up in crunch time is inexcusable, but even with a new coach they just couldn’t break that habit. Something clearly has to change, either within the roster or within Durant and Westbrook as players
As for the supporting cast, Reggie Jackson was good but never fit. Durant and Westbrook are both ball-dominant players. Taking it out of their hands to give to an inferior player wasn’t worth it so they traded him. Harden got them to the Finals when their core was 23 years old. That’s successful by any measure. As for Kanter, he makes as much money as Harden, and is so bad on defense that he’s unplayable against any Warriors’ lineup without a traditional center. Waiters had a great postseason but will be expensive to keep. Adams finally came into his own this year and is a great fit
All that said, Durant’s smartest move is probably to sign a one year deal with OKC. If the Warriors don’t get Durant, they might make a run at Al Horford. If that doesn’t happen, basically their entire bench plus Harrison Barnes are eligible for new contracts, and you can believe someone out there wants to overpay them to spite the Warriors. They’re likely coming back slightly worse next year and the Spurs’ role players are older yet again. Durant can see how next year goes in the Western Conference, enter free agency with Westbrook, and then be eligible for an even larger max contract as the salary cap rises next year
9 years ago at 12:12 pmHonestly, I feel he get’s such little flak because of the Lil B curse. He shows out every year, then the postseason comes, Lil B reminds him he’s cursed and he chokes. People recognize him as a star player, to arrogant to take on a rapper 1-1 more than a winless athlete
9 years ago at 11:34 amI do not think this has anything to do with that; I think it’s the fact, aside from a momentary outburst at the media last season, he’s a really soft spoken guy that rarely puts his foot in his mouth.
There’s never been a KD “decision,” a declaration he’s the “best player on Earth” a la Steph Curry, he’s never guaranteed anything, openly denigrated a coach (even though early this season Billy Donovan looked totally lost) he kisses his mom before and after games and just seems like an all around nice kid.
LeBron and now Steph “I’m so tough” Curry are just much easier targets.
9 years ago at 11:37 amDion Waiters tftc
9 years ago at 11:25 amDion is phenomenal. I love that GM LeBron James basically met him and was like…yea I can’t play with him get him the fuck out of here. But he had a great season in OKC and can be a Jamal Crawford type instant offense off the bench. Cavs just used him wrong; he’s not a spot up shooter and on a team in which LBJ and Kyrie completely dominate the ball you lose Dion’s best ability: creating his own shot.
JR fills the role they need.
9 years ago at 11:27 amdion refused to stand for the national anthem. NF.
9 years ago at 1:31 pmThe media spun the dick out of that it was a miscommunication.
9 years ago at 2:38 pmIn any stacked NBA team, one player is going to have a diminished role.
For OKC’s big 3, it was James Harden.
For Miami’s big 3, Chris Bosh.
For Cleveland’s Big 3, Kevin Love.
Look at their career stats.
If Durant left for Golden State, he won’t have the same impact on the team as he had in OKC. It would do more harm to him than good.
9 years ago at 11:30 amBingo. Lebron held up 3 fingers Sunday and at the parade — 2 from teaming up with his hall of fame buddies. Bosh, Wade, and Lebron made hundreds of millions of extra dollars from that colluded move. Durant’s star power would never be higher on GS. And San Fran >>>>>>>> Oklahoma. No brainer.
9 years ago at 5:50 pmKevin Durant is probably the softest superstar ever. He can shoot no doubt but he doesn’t have that little extra thing that Mike, Kobe, and now LeBron found that will get him to a ring. I have always said he is the better scorer but Russ is the better player. You can tell Russ has the confidence and never say die attitude that makes someone a champion. He just needs to relax from time to time late in games. If KD leaves for GS, even if they win 6 straight, he will always be known as a coattail rider not a leader.
9 years ago at 11:39 amRight and that’s why I can’t understand how his representatives would ever let him do that. It just seems insane.
If he wants to leave OKC for a better market, I get that. But he NEEDS to go “home” to Washington. Wall is a star, they have a ton of cap space and the young guys (Beal, Porter, Oubre) have all showed potential and value.
He could be the star that brings a title to America’s new pathetic sports city. Think about it, when the fuck has DC won anything?
Nationals and Wizards I don’t think EVER have. Caps decades ago, redskins are a joke, I’m guessing like 91?
9 years ago at 11:46 amThere aren’t alot of teams set up to win right now but OkC is one of them. I think Washington could be a good fit for sure. He can grow and learn to be a leader. But KD had to own up to the Thunders shortcomings.
I think he would be able to get a lot more shots up in Washington possible just because of Wall’s playing style. With Wall instead of Russ he loses an elite rebounder and 1v1 defender. Plus Russ averaged over 10 assists per game. I think he has to learn that LBJ had to. If you’re the superstar, when its winning time then you have to make it happen on both sides of the ball.
I mean that chase down block on Iggy was just as big as the three over Festus by Lebron and the three Kyrie hit late game. If KD is on that team in the same situation I don’t think you see him bust a lung to make that play. That’s why he’s not a champion.
9 years ago at 1:25 pmThanks for writing this, Siblings. It’s a nice change of pace to read a piece that actually has some research and a hard position in place, rather than the middle of the road, “I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings” bullshit we’ve been getting here lately.
9 years ago at 12:17 pmKevin Durant trying to join a team for the nearly automatic finals W has to be aTFM
9 years ago at 12:30 pmDo you propose he goes to a shit team and loses the rest of his career? At this rate in the NBA you either team up with some all stars and look like a punk or you do it yourself and maybe go .500. Kinda shitty but there’s not much that KD or any of these other superstars in search of rings can do about it
9 years ago at 12:30 pmOKC is my team and I love Kevin Durant, but if he goes to play with that chronic dick fondler, Draymond “deez nuts” Green, and that smug mouth piece sucking asshole, Steph Curry, he is dead to me.
9 years ago at 12:32 pmJesus christ Siblings, I know your feelings for Steph scare you, but all the anti-Warriors articles in the world won’t help your situation. This is 2016, you don’t have to be scared anymore, we’re ready to accept you for who you are. (yes I’m counting this as an indirect anti-Warriors article, sue me)
9 years ago at 2:05 pmSo, me repeatedly saying the Warriors are so good they’ll probably win next year without KD is me hating them?
9 years ago at 2:23 pmBad idea around Draymond Green.
9 years ago at 2:12 pm