When any superstar leaves an NBA franchise, it leaves a huge hole to be filled by the team. And when the superstar is of Kevin Durant’s caliber, the job sounds even more difficult.
Most fans and media experts thought the Golden State Warriors would collapse after Kevin Durant left the team in 2019. Even more so when KD helped the Dubs win two back-to-back NBA Championships during his stint with the team.
Moreover, had he not been injured in the 2019 NBA Finals, he would have arguably helped the team complete a three-peat. Anyway, fast forward to 2022, three years post KD’s departure, and the Warriors are already back on their feet.
Led by none other than the phenomenal Stephen Curry, the Warriors went from missing the playoffs in two consecutive seasons to winning the 2022 NBA Championship. This title meant a lot to the Warriors and their fans because they once again proved that Durant needed them more than they needed him.
KD hasn’t even been able to lead the Nets to an NBA Finals appearance, let alone win a ring. Now, with him requesting a trade out of the Nets, there are many teams lining up to trade for him.
Surprisingly, as per a few reports, the Warriors are also rumored to be preparing a trade package for Durant. This news has led to many believing that if KD once again becomes a Warrior, the public perception of the 2x NBA champ will be ruined forever. But analyst Kevin Wildes says KD isn’t bothered by it.
"If Kevin Durant goes to GSW & is sitting back in his palatial estate looking up at 4 Finals MVP trophies & 4 championship rings, hundreds of millions of dollars & the weather is nice, do you think he'd feel like Robin? Nobody would care. He'd be totally fine." — @kevinwildes pic.twitter.com/7IM6nNfqvP
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) July 12, 2022
“He’s sitting back in his palatial estate and he’s looking up at 4 Finals MVP trophies and 4 championship rings, hundreds of millions of dollars and the weather is nice … He’d be totally fine.”
At the end of the day, the ultimate goal for any NBA player is to win NBA Championships, and playing for the Warriors in this era seems like a sure-shot ticket to winning at least one ring.
But the issue is, do the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green want KD back? After all, he didn’t leave the team on the best of terms. So even if the Warriors want to trade for Durant, they might stop due to what their superstar trio wants. After all, keeping them happy should be one of the top priorities for the Golden State Warriors as of now.
