Seven years aren’t enough for fans to forget Kevin Durant’s contentious move to the Golden State Warriors. He joined not only a West powerhouse but the team that directly contended against them. The NFL equivalent took place this season when two-time Pro-Bowler Saquon Barkley became the newest Philadelphia Eagles member, leaving the New York Giants. Given their heated rivalry, Giants fans and even some of his teammates showed him no mercy.

“You’re dead to me,” his former ally Tiki Barber said about him. His decision to join their arch-nemesis raised comparisons to Durant’s infamous 2017 switch. The fans gave him the name ‘Snakequon,’ the same as what the Slim Reaper faced when he made a move. Generally, Durant, being a Commanders fan isn’t one to stand up for another enemy. But having spent time with Barkley when they were both in New York, they grew very close. And despite his polarizing move, he wants to see the Eagles running back shine.

“I am, I am. But it’s just hard when I run into these guys, and I get to meet them, and they are all so cool. Me and Saquon just being in New York together playing for the Giants, me playing for the Nets. We just kicked it so many times. It’s like, damn, I just love that guy. He’s a good dude you know I want to see him do well,” he said in an interview with Kay Adams.

Unlike Durant’s decision, Saquon Barkley claims to have been driven out of New York. Stalling negotiations made him feel insulted. In an interview with The Athletic, Barkley reiterated that the Giants GM doubted his value, directly asking him to test the waters. From that moment, the relationship between him and the club was over, even though the running back never wanted to leave.

His decision to go right across to the rival team wasn’t a stand against his teammates. To Saquon Barkley, he wanted to show the Giants’ front office the mistake they had made. He wanted to hit them back, and by observation, he wanted it to be hard considering he joined an NFC East team with the Eagles.

Before his debut, fans could have complained all they wanted. But as he shared the floor with one of the most productive NFL offenses, there seemed to be no stopping Barkley.

LeBron James was left awestruck after Saquon Barkley’s thunderous debut

The stage was set in Brazil for the Philadelphia Eagles’ opener against the Green Bay Packers. It was the first time the NFL took place in the Southern Hemisphere. And it was also the much-anticipated debut of Saquon Barkley. The former Giants running back may have started the game slow, but by the end, he was in Philly’s history books.

The 27-year-old explosion produced three TDs in his opening game for the Eagles. Only Terrell Ownes had achieved such a feat on his Eagles debut, which came way back in 2004. The Brazil thriller ended with Philadelphia snatching a 34-29 win thanks to their spotless second-half performance. Without a doubt, Barkley was the domineering force and proved he was still among the high-profile running backs in the NFL.

LeBron James, another massive football fanatic couldn’t comprehend Barkley’s speed combined with his agility. He let his flattery leak in a tweet, “OMG SAQUON SO DAMN QUICK/FAST!!!!!!! SO GOOD MAN! @saquon,”

With a decorated offensive line and a pinpoint QB like Jalen Hurts throwing him accurate catches, Barkley could have a lot of fun in Philly Moreover, he could become the beacon that breaks their Super Bowl jinx, one that has lasted since their last triumph in 2018.