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Durant’s departure from OKC worst decision in NBA history

November 10, 2016

Kevin Durant’s departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors is by far the weakest move made by a superstar in NBA history. Durant joined the team that eliminated his previous team in the playoffs, creating a Super Team for the Warriors like no one has ever seen.

After leading his team through the first five games of the Western Conference Finals, Durant choked in Game Six missing multiple shots and making careless turnovers in the final minutes of the fourth-quarter. Could it be because Durant wanted the Warriors to win?  Almost a month after losing to the Warriors, Durant decided to leave Oklahoma City.

“I will miss Oklahoma City, and the role I have had in building this remarkable team. I will forever cherish the relationships within the organization — the friends and teammates that I went to war with on the court for nine years, and all the fans and people of the community,” Durant reported to The Players Tribune. Durant contradicts himself because he still has not talked to Russell Westbrook about his decision to leave the Thunder.  After eight years of playing together Durant didn’t even give Westbrook a phone call before deserting his so-called “friend.”  Returning to the Thunder must have never been an option considering he could not even say goodbye to Westbrook.

Durant continues to insult the Thunder since his departure.  “He’s made himself a villain by taking all these shots at Oklahoma City for no reason.  There’s no reason for that.  He left, he’s happy, shut up.  When you’re taking shots at Russell and those guys, that’s not necessary,” NBA Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, said.  After being the face of the franchise for nine years Durant insults the city and the organization after he left.  His jabs at Westbrook and the Thunder just aren’t classy.

Westbrook on the other hand, has not taken any shots at Durant. He hasn’t said anything negative about Durant to the media at all.  He is handling this perfectly.  Westbrook is just trying to help his team win basketball games; he isn’t focused on Durant anymore.  “I’m just minding my own business, I don’t watch his (Durant’s) games or check any scores,” Westbrook said.  Westbrook is a leader and Durant is a follower.

In NBA history Durant’s decision to join the Warriors was by far the weakest move anyone has ever seen. Some might compare it to LeBron James, joining the Miami Heat in 2011, however, James joined a team that won 47 games and lost in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs.  In contrast, Durant joined an established 73-win Warrior team that lost in the NBA Finals in seven games.  In addition, LeBron didn’t have an All-Star teammate on the Cleveland Cavaliers when he went to Miami.  Durant had Russell Westbrook, a multiple time All-Star and scoring champion.  There is no accurate comparison between the two.

Other NBA players hate the move he made to Golden State too. “If you can’t beat em’ join em’,” Clippers forward, Paul Pierce said.  He mocked Durant saying he couldn’t win a championship with his own team and had to run to another franchise to do so.

Multiple ESPN analysts had negative comments to Durant’s decision to sign with the Warriors. “Kevin Durant is one of the top three players in the world. And he ran away from the challenge that he faces in order to jump on the bandwagon of a team that’s a little bit better. I don’t want to hear the LeBron comparison,” said Stephen A. Smith.

Durant’s legacy is forever tainted after the move to Golden State. He will never be looked at as one of the best players in history regardless of how many championships he wins.  He abandoned the Thunder to join the two-time MVP Stephen Curry.  Durant didn’t want to paint his own legacy so he’s decided to make Curry’s look better.  Michael Jordan didn’t join the Pistons when he couldn’t beat them.  Kobe Bryant didn’t join the Celtics after they defeated him.  Those players wanted the challenge and eventually beat their rival.  Running from a challenge doesn’t make you a champion, conquering it does.

 

 

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