Out of all of Kevin Durant’s stops over the years, his tenure in Golden State continues to be the most successful stretch of his entire career. Ahead of his first game in the arena since leaving back in 2019, Durant reflected on the fans there who supported him every step of the way.
“Some incredible moments there,” said Durant. “We have built a bond that don’t really have to be spoken about… I feel like they’ve been supporting me well before I came there, actually. And then once I became part of the Warriors, they just went even harder in support of me, myself and my teammates.”
.#DubNation: Kevin Durant on what he’ll reflect on when he plays at Chase Center on Tuesday in front of Warriors fans at home for the first time since 2019. pic.twitter.com/137J9Emnxb
— Trevor Booth (@TrevorBoothNBA) October 22, 2023
Kevin’s longest-tenured run came with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2007-2016. His most memorable moments, however, came with the Warriors alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. With the Dubs, Durant enjoyed unprecedented success on one of the best teams ever assembled. Sadly, it was a short-lived ride as Durant would leave after winning two titles and just three years after joining. Even now, years later, the fans are still split on where it all went wrong.
Why Did Durant Leave The Warriors?
No team in modern NBA history can compare to the Durant-era Warriors. To date, the group has an astounding win-loss record of 154-54 all-time with Durant, which means he won 74% of his games during his three-year run with the team. So when Durant left in the summer of 2019, many fans were confused about what caused such a massive split.
For one, Durant’s decision to join the Warriors was met with overwhelming hostility. For fans around the world, Durant ruined NBA parity and many of them weren’t afraid to let him know about it. The sheer intensity of the criticism from fans put a lot of pressure on him in Golden State and he may have left for some sort of relief in that regard. Secondly, it was Durant’s spat with Draymond Green that sealed his fate that summer. After a heated exchange on the bench where things got personal, the relationship between Durant and his teammates was never the same again as he went into total isolation both on and off the court.
So, in the end, Durant couldn’t stick around for long with the Golden State Warriors but what he was able to accomplish in those three years will never wash away and his legacy will forever be immortalized for his role in one of the best teams ever built.
Suns Vs. Warriors In The Western Conference
The Western Conference is set to be more competitive than ever with stacked teams like the Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans, and Thunder all expected to be vying for playoff position. Of course, the Suns and Warriors will be in the middle of it all, and the NBA will give us our first preview of the matchup on opening night in San Francisco.
While the first game of the season hardly matters in the grand scene of things, the matchup will set the tone for the rest of the way, and whoever wins will have an early head start in the standings. But no matter who wins the game this Tuesday, the Warriors and Suns are two teams that will be heavily connected all season long and it will be interesting to see how they stack up against each other, given the amount of star power involved.
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