The Boston Celtics were the closest out of any team to trading for Kevin Durant. With a package centered around Jaylen Brown and multiple picks, the Cs made the best offer for the 2x Finals MVP and might have landed him had they been willing to part with a few more key players.
In the end, the Celtics failed to secure a deal, and KD was left with no other choice but to re-commit to the Nets.
For most Celtics fans, it was a disappointing turn of events. But for long-time Celtics reporter Bob Ryan, he’s actually glad that KD didn’t end up on his team. On the latest edition of his podcast, he explained why:
“I don’t need him. I’m happy. I don’t wanna win with him. I don’t wanna root for him. I’d rather root for this group right here that we have seen assembled and grow. And now that we’ve added Brogdon and Gallinari, I love this team! I don’t want to win with this shit head. And I think he is one.”
"I don't want to win with that sh*t head." 😲
— @GlobeBobRyan on @KDTrey5
Checkout the full podcast w/ @GoodmanHoops & @Gary_Tanguay ⤵️
📺Full Podcast: https://t.co/oy112I9Wwm
⚡️by @betonline_ag & @AthleticGreens pic.twitter.com/CUes4QAFeh
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) August 30, 2022
On the court, Durant’s abilities cannot be denied. He can get a bucket from anywhere, over anyone, and changes the expectations of any team that he joins. His impact is real, and it’s what has earned him a reputation as one of the best players in the game.
Unfortunately, Durant also has a tendency to bail on his teams. In OKC, he left after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Warriors before joining the Warriors months later. In Golden State, he won a pair of championships before burning bridges with several important members of the team.
The worst offense has been in Brooklyn. After just two full seasons with the team, he tried to force his team’s hand by making demands and ultimatums to team owner Joe Tsai.
All of those actions have reflected poorly on Durant, who is now having to come to terms with returning to the team he tried to abandon. If you’re a Celtics fan, announcer, or analyst, why would you want a guy like that leading your team?
Needless to say, Durant has lost a lot of goodwill in the NBA community. His antics this summer have tanked his reputation, and it will take a lot of hard work to earn it back.
