The Golden State Warriors, perhaps, were headed to the perfect end to a legendary 2015-16 season. After breaking the Chicago Bulls regular season record of 72-10, the Warriors looked unstoppable in the postseason, defeating the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers with ease, dropping only 2 games.
Their Western Conference Finals matchup, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, was the toughest, though. With the duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook leading the Thunder, they were on a roll and took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. But the Warriors certainly didn’t give up. Winning the next 3 games in a row, the Warriors won the series and entered the Finals.
Despite showing so much resolve, the Dubs eventually crumbled in the Finals, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-3, despite leading the Finals 3-1 at one point. After the 2016 playoffs, many expected Kevin Durant to re-sign with the Thunder. Given that his team was only a game away from making it to the Finals, it made all the sense in the world that Durant would run it back with Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma.
But KD shook the world with his decision and joined the Warriors to form perhaps one of the most explosive super-teams the league has ever seen. Recently, former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert revealed how the 2016 champions reacted to KD joining the Dubs.
“Uhhh… this ni**a. For what? What’s Russ got to say about this sh*t?”
Durant joining the Warriors certainly didn’t bode well with many fans. Although his three seasons with the team were a great success winning two championships and two Finals MVPs, many felt that the small forward joining the already loaded Warriors made the league boring.
As for Russell Westbrook, the guard was understandably frustrated with the decision. Given that the team had made the Conference Finals in 2016, the Thunder could have successfully challenged for the title with a minor roster move. This was apparent when the Dubs faced off against the Thunder. With Russ chipping back in with trash talk, it was apparent that the once booming duo were not on the best of terms.
Despite him leaving the Warriors back in 2019, fans are still divided about Durant’s move to the Dubs in the first place. Do you think KD joining the Warriors was the right move?
