When you ask an NBA fan to list down the greatest team rivalries, they cannot get past without mentioning the Cavs-Warriors rivalry from the mid-2010s era. Stephen Curry & Co. looked unbeatable with their top-class offense and defensive setup. But then, they still had a nagging hurdle on their way. It was LeBron James & Co.’s grit and power. Nevertheless, the Dubs still had a power move left in their bag that altered the course of the greatest rivalry, exclaimed Ty Lue.

It was the time when the Warriors were gearing up to become a dynasty. During the 2015 Finals, Steph, alongside Klay Thompson, won their first NBA title, defeating the Cavs in a 4-2 series. In the very next season, the Bay Area side went on to create history, finishing the regular season with a 73-9 record and once again faced the Cavaliers in the Finals. Then we know what happened. Bron & Co. pulled off the unthinkable. They became the first team to overcome a 1-3 deficit and won the title.

That night, true basketball fans slept peacefully, thinking that they could witness more of this highly competitive explosive action on the floor. However, their sleep didn’t last long, as the Warriors pulled off a surprise trade in the 2016 off-season, signing Kevin Durant for $54 million worth a 2-year contract. The rest is history, Slim Reaper went on to win back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs.

While the move gave rise to the Warriors dynasty, it also ended the beautiful rivalry. Speaking of which, then-Cavs’ coach Ty Lue exclaimed his disappointment to Draymond Green. “We thought, we figured y’all out… We went back the next year, it could have went either way again but like we thought we had the blueprint… but when y’all got KD… it just became too hard,” said Lue. He further added, “It was too hard… to really like I said match up offensively.”  That wasn’t it. Coach Lue had technically further detailed how it affected the rivalry.

Ty Lue detailed how Kevin Durant’s trade affected the rivalry

It wasn’t just fans and Ty Lue, who were shocked by the blockbuster trade. Even LeBron James, speaking of the trade, said, “When I saw the news I was like, ‘Wow.’ I think everyone had the ‘wow’ thing.” But we all know that it’s more than just “wow”.

Lue detailing the aftereffects of the trade to Green, said, “When y’all got KD, it just made it I mean… you (Draymond) shot rolling, you got Iguodala for the lob and you got Klay and and KD in the corners like it just became too hard… y’all was always great defensive team, so once y’all got KD I mean it was like tough. It was just too much.” 

The trade definitely made the difference. Both teams faced each other in the Finals twice after the trade. While KD & Co. won the 2017 Finals with a 4-1 record, they clean-swept the 2018 Finals, crashing down the greatest rivalry. Notably, Durant paid the price for it too. Ever since KD moved to the Bay Area, the rest of the NBA world was behind him, name-calling as a ‘Ring chaser’. It certainly didn’t do well with the star’s legacy. What do you think of the trade? Let us know in the comments.