On the surface, one would assume that every NBA Championship ring counts as equal weight. After all, winning a Championship at the highest level is never an easy feat.
But when you put certain titles in their proper context, it becomes clear that some have varying amounts of difficulty and importance.
LeBron’s third Championship, for example, is widely considered his best, not only for what it meant to the city of Cleveland but also for the degree of difficulty involved in obtaining it.
On Twitter, fans took this idea to another level, comparing Giannis’ 2021 Championship to the two that Kevin Durant won in Golden State.
Which would you choose: Giannis' ring or KD's two? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6AgKGCcrdJ
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 21, 2021
After asking themselves which they would rather have, it opened up some pretty interesting conversations…
One key piece ppl are missing is that GSW lost the Finals the year before KD got there, so saying "they would have won" without KD is pretty stupid😭😭. There's no evidence to support that statement. KD made sure they won their rings and when he was injured….they didn't win…
— ⬇️↘️➡️+🅿️🅿️🅿️♕♛CHADWICK♛♕ (@KingChadwick843) July 21, 2021
KD rings feel like they were not really his, he went to a team expected to win already… Giannis on the other hand is much more impressive because no one apart from Charles Barkley expected them to even make the finals
— I Have Alot To Say💭 (@OnkeBlack) July 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/BeWokes/status/1417892023831519236https://twitter.com/Baby_Yoda_Nanny/status/1417908696986931203
I would rather be a 2x champ than a 1x champ idc what fans on twitter would think
— Jay💎 (@DubsFanJay) July 21, 2021
The easier, less impressive rings? All you buddy lol
— Slovenija Fan For Life (17-1) (@MFFL1998) July 21, 2021
Giannis ring! He got it without having a super team for the team that got to the NBA.
— Boy (@andie0312) July 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/seereelgoose/status/1417891638886600704
Giannis's means more. Not saying KDs aren't rings but when you do it for the team that drafted you, with the guys you developed with, for the city that put their hopes in you it's something special.
OKC would give anything to have had that all come together I imagine.
— NextUp (@RCasparriello) July 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/CadePistons/status/1417893654656598017
If you’ve been an NBA fan for years, you’ll know this line of thinking is nothing new.
Ever since Durant won his first Chip in Golden State, fans have made the case that they don’t really count the same had he won them by himself on the Thunder.
No matter your feelings on Durant, winning back-to-back titles with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green was more than a goal: it was an expectation.
This year, few had Giannis getting past the second round. They said his Bucks were not good enough. Instead of proving those people right, Antetokounmpo put the team on his back and carried them to a Championship, beating the Heat, Bucks, Hawks, and Suns along the way.
It’s a great underdog story, and really highlights the perception of this season for Antetokounmpo.
Let’s see if he can do it again.
