Kevin Durant was a huge factor in the Golden State Warriors winning back-to-back NBA titles in 2017 and 2018; KD was Finals MVP in both those series against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team was incredibly stacked, though, something that has always counted against them in conversations about their success, but their prowess on the basketball court was simply undeniable.
Durant leaving for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 was a huge moment of relief for the rest of the NBA, and many never thought the Warriors would find themselves a step away from winning the whole thing again. However, it took them just a couple of seasons of good drafting and smart trades, and the team is once again back in the NBA Finals in 2022.
One of the players that have been instrumental as the 4th option on offense is Andrew Wiggins, who had some huge performances in the Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks, getting timely buckets and playing excellent defense on Luka Doncic. However, a few fans have perhaps forgotten how lethal KD was because of it, with someone on Twitter comparing Wiggins to Durant after the Warriors won:
The Warriors replaced Kevin Durant with Andrew Wiggins and still made the finals pretty easily
— Anthony (@omgitsbirdman) May 27, 2022
“The Warriors replaced Kevin Durant with Andrew Wiggins and still made the finals pretty easily.”
Now, tweeting about KD is always a hazard considering how active the superstar is on the platform, and sure enough, someone drew his attention to it, and Durant responded in a typically crisp fashion:
I would say that these people have been hurting for way too long, it’s time for #healing.. https://t.co/odagupG3jN
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) May 27, 2022
“I would say that these people have been hurting for way too long, it’s time for #healing..”
Durant isn’t one to let people get away with saying whatever they want to, so his response is unsurprising and perhaps more of the NBA community will learn not to prod at the Slim Reaper. In any case, if Golden State is to win the championship again without him, though, it will only provide more fuel to his critics who have always suggested that he won because of his co-stars and not the other way around.