The Golden State Warriors dynasty was in the making during the mid-2010s. In 2016, the team produced the best regular season performance, breaking the 1996 Chicago Bulls 72-10 record with 73-9. While it seemed like a cakewalk for the Dubs to win the chip, they blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Importantly, when the team hit rock bottom after the heartbreaking loss, the Kevin Durant trade lifted the spirits, says ex-Warriors star, Shaun Livingston.

The 3x NBA Champ was already a veteran when he entered the Bay Area side in 2014. The shooting guard, who is known for his effortless mid-range buckets, took care of the bench points. Livingston joined the team at the right moment, winning the ring in his first season and creating a record in the following season.

However, it was all squashed when the team lost the Finals. Speaking of that moment in the latest episode of Knuckleheads Podcasts, Livingston added, “You go from all summer you outside to next summer you don’t want to go outside cause we just gave up a 3-1 lead… the hardest part of that you know like they the Champs but we felt like we was the better team.” 

Nevertheless, little did he know, an update could change everything on the table. The host asked Livingston to explain the “mood” after Kevin Durant entered the picture. The 38-year-old continued, “It was this, the shock. I’m sitting getting the cut. I’m in the barber seat and I remember just seeing on my phone like, ‘Damn! KD to the Warriors'”

Following that, Livingston added, “He about to be on our team with what we got, it’s going to be fun. It changed the mood because me Dray (Draymond Green) was still on the second team. Obviously, it took us to a different level because we already had the culture in place with Steph, Klay, and Dray. Right then you had me and Andre (Iguodala) as the vets.”

Kevin Durant to the Warriors – Public Enemy #1

Kevin Durant attained his superstar status way before his Warriors stint, playing for the OKC Thunder and winning the regular season for the 2013-14 season. However, that image took a hit on June 4th, 2016, when he made a move to the Bay Area. The media and fans were all over the Slim Reaper, calling him a ‘ring chaser’ and ‘disloyal’ to the Oklahoma fans. Nevertheless, it didn’t really bother the superstar, as he went on to do his business, reaching three Finals in a row and winning two Finals MVPs.

On the other hand, while the rest of the NBA world debated over KD’s move to the Dubs, the Bay Area had a party. Livingston further added, “You got you know a solid foundation, and then you just bring this killer bring a unicorn to what we, it was just telepathy. we all just moving. It’s like string music, but then you got him in the fourth, we just out here watching him like just get this man a rock.”

However, it wasn’t an easy transition for Stephen Curry. Being the #1 guy on the team, Steph had to work a bit to give his spot to the Slim Reaper. 

How did Stephen Curry come to terms with KD’s inclusion?

The Baby-faced Assassin is known for his selfless nature and how he puts the team first. Despite having that quality, Steph found it difficult to adapt after the KD trade. Speaking of which, Livingston said, “It was hard for Steph cause it was an adjustment, he didn’t make the adjustment until the Christmas game… He took a step back and had to make the biggest adjustment and I think that’s what KD was looking at is Steph going to take that step back.” 

Importantly, one of the biggest concerns about Steph’s career was that the superstar wasn’t able to win the Finals MVP until he won the 2022 ring. When the Warriors dynasty won the 2014 ring, it was Andre Iguodala, who won the Finals MVP. And KD undeniably took home the other two in 2017 and 2018. It remained an unspoken quest for Steph.

Moreover, there’s another instance to prove his humility and humbleness as a superstar. Following the 2022 NBA Champion, the superstar opened up about the text message he sent to KD before he was traded to the side in a chat with Bob Myers.

In that interview, Steph said, “I know how I can operate in that environment with somebody as great of a basketball player as he is… And nobody was really going to threaten that part. It was just like, ‘Is this going to help us win, and am I going to enjoy playing basketball with him? Hell yeah.'” Nevertheless, it worked out well for the Dubs. Unfortunately, it didn’t last for long as KD barged out of the team after the 2019 Finals loss against the Toronto Raptors.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.