In recent basketball memory, one of the most highly criticized moves is arguably Kevin Durant joining a 73-9 Golden State Warriors. The story behind the blockbuster signings has often harmed the Slim Reaper’s legacy. At the time, Stephen Curry and the Warriors thumped KD’s Oklahoma City Thunder to make it back to the NBA finals. However, when LeBron James shocked the world by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the finals, the Bay knew they needed help. That single experience would be the seeds for one of the most terrifying dynasties in the league. Recently, a former number two overall pick called out Durant for making such a decision. But KD shut him down with just a single message.
Evan Turner is the former assistant coach for the Boston Celtics and a former NBA star. The 34-year-old was once one of the best college athletes playing for Ohio State. Racking up the reputation, the Philadelphia 76ers chose him with their surprising number 2 pick. However, his career was another unfortunate NBA story. Turner would never be able to elevate his game in the big league. He played his last game in 2019.
Stepping away from the basketball court, he rose back to popularity recently for his scathing take on Kevin Durant and the Warriors. In conversation with Andre Iguodala, the 11-season veteran blasted them for assembling an All-Star roster. Likewise, Durant came out and responded with a four-word response.
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Kevin Durant responds to criticism by joining Stephen Curry
Turner spoke to Andre Iguodala about the 2017-19 Golden State Warriors in a recent conversation. The 34-year-old witnessed the unfolding of an unfair dynasty with five All-Star starters. According to the former Ohio State star, the culmination of stars was like facing off against Michael Jordan. And he personally blamed Kevin Durant for making it happen. He said, “Y’all won a lot of championships, but it was lame as f**k”
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Reacting to the clip, Durant had a classic reply ready for Turner. He tweeted, “Awwww, it wasn?t fair???”
The Warriors were indeed not the first to assemble a team of superstars. Each era saw a franchise loaded with the best players. From the Boston Celtics’ Big 4 to LeBron James’ Miami Heat, the NBA wasn’t new to stacked teams. However, it was arguably the first time that the NBA saw such superstar depth and all in their prime.
Awwww, it wasn’t fair???
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) December 30, 2022
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Stephen Curry, KD, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala were competing together in their golden years. As history shows, the only scenario which stopped them was the Slim Reaper getting hurt. When healthy, the Golden State Warriors won two back-to-back championships with Durant winning Finals MVP each time. While it still haunts his legacy, nothing takes away from what KD was capable of doing desire sharing the court with the splash brothers.
However, an often ignored side of their story is the sacrifice each superstar took. Notably, Stephen Curry had to let go of a lot of his time on the ball to make sure Durant can unleash. The selfishness that each player displayed ultimately became the reason they became a successful dynasty.
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According to you, did the Warriors ruin the NBA? Let us know your views in the comments below.