“Superteams” aren’t exactly a new concept. Really, they’ve been around for decades. The Showtime Lakers had Magic Johnson, Kareem. Michael Cooper, and James Worthy. Bird’s Celtics included Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale.
For Kevin Durant, though, his experience with stacked “super squads” supersedes anything we’ve seen in basketball history.
With the trade for James Harden on Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets are set to be among the NBA’s top teams. Assuming both Harden and Irving stay healthy, Kevin Durant will be well on his way to his third NBA Championship.
Interestingly enough, when you look back, this actually isn’t the first time the 2x MVP has been surrounded by All-NBA level talent.
During his time in OKC and Golden State, he has played with a long list of stars, including Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving,
Kevin Durant has been on some STACKED teams. 😳🔥
(image via @ThrowbackHoops) pic.twitter.com/r4zJIOyRdr
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 13, 2021
With the Thunder, people like to forget just how good Durant had it. Not only was he paired with prime Russell Westbrook, but he was also joined by Serge Ibaka and a young James Harden. They dominated the West for years and even made the NBA Finals in 2012.
Of course, we know where his journey led him next. After a crushing defeat to the Golden State Warriors, KD decided to join them and form what many still regard as the greatest team ever assembled. At the time, his decision had people calling him “weak” and “soft” for not being able to win without the help of superstars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPdbuLGOQCY
Now, with Harden and Kyrie in Brooklyn, that narrative might be sent into overdrive. The Nets have the best roster, by far, on paper and it’s yet another situation where KD has more help than he probably needs. Unlike a lot of other star players, Durant has never really proven he can carry a team to success.
So, by the end of it all, what will it do for his legacy? How will he be remembered?
At this point, that’s hard to answer. If he is able to win big and lead this Brooklyn team to titles, it could really do wonders for his case as a Top 10 player ever.
If not, the critics and haters will only use it fuel.
