The Philadelphia 76ers have put together an incredible superteam this offseason, and Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant has had some things to say about it. Durant recently claimed on Instagram that these 76ers are better than his Golden State Warriors teams and disrespected his former teammate Klay Thompson in this process.
Thompson eventually came across Durant’s comments as they went viral, and it might be safe to say he didn’t like being called “never an MVP candidate in nothing.”
“Aye man, you good?” Thompson wrote. “Kevin Durant, what you using my full government [name] for?”
It is true that Thompson was never an MVP candidate. The Dallas Mavericks guard has only ever received a vote in 2015, finishing tied for 10th. To dismiss him like that wasn’t right, though.
Thompson has made five All-Star teams, which is the same as Jaylen Brown and three more than Tyrese Maxey. He has also made two All-NBA teams, which is again the same as Brown and one more than Maxey.
Now, Maxey, in particular, and Brown should make more as time goes by, but to almost act like Thompson was some slouch compared to them is ridiculous. To go with the All-Star and All-NBA selections, the 36-year-old also made two All-Defensive teams, something the other two haven’t accomplished and are unlikely ever to.
Thompson was in the conversation for best two-way guard in the NBA at his peak with the Warriors. He was averaging 20 points a night while defending the star guards on the opposition.
Thompson was the perfect backcourt partner for Stephen Curry, and the Warriors weren’t going to have all the success they had without him. He also adjusted remarkably well when Durant arrived in 2016, which speaks to how malleable a star he was, too.
What would also have made all of this sting was that Thompson has defended Durant from his critics. He lamented the fact that people don’t talk about his former teammate’s greatness. Thompson has also made it clear he did not have an issue with Durant leaving the Warriors in 2019. He just appreciated their time together.
So, Thompson, who averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in 2025-26, definitely did not deserve that shot being fired at him. Now, all of this stemmed from Durant’s initial comments about the new-look 76ers.
“The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on,” Durant said. “[The 76ers] have got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, hell yeah, I think they’re going to be a contender. They’re going to be a fun team to watch. It’s going to be League Pass-worthy.”
A fan felt Durant was comparing the 76ers to the Warriors here, but he made it clear that he never called them the same. The 16-time All-Star was just saying they are a contender and have a lot of talent. One thing led to another, and we’d eventually get to the comment in question.
“Ain’t close lmao,” Durant wrote. “Joel, MVP recently. Jaylen brown, recent Finals MVP; Tyrese Maxey, All-Star the last three years. We all know what Bron does. Klay Thompson, never a MVP candidate in nothing, 22ppg. Draymond, 14ppg, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, Steph a MVP just like Joel was. I don’t get how the Warriors team is better on paper.”
The 76ers are incredibly strong with Maxey, Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe. You’d still back the Warriors with Curry, Thompson, Durant, and Draymond Green to beat them in a hypothetical seven-game playoff series, though. That team was close to perfection, and those big guns were all in their primes.
