Kevin Durant is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA. The Warriors SF is over 6’10” with a 7’5″ wingspan. He’s one of the greatest scorers we’ve ever seen, from his early days with the Seattle SuperSonics to his current team in the Golden State Warriors. At this stage in his career, the one-time MVP is reaching a crossroads which could possibly change the landscape of the NBA.
Durant has been a key factor in the Warriors’ season thus far. Along with the other four All-Stars on his team, the Warriors notched a 57-25 record which was the best record in the Western Conference. As the postseason commenced, Durant was arguably the best player on the planet. In 11 games this postseason, Durant averaged 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. That was until Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
With 2:05 left in the third quarter, Durant put in a contested mid-range shot. Following the shot, he felt someone trip him up, resulting in injury. However, it was non-contact. Jogging back on defense, Durant felt as if he was kicked. Immediately after, announcers and professionals assumed that it was an Achilles injury considering the injury was similar to that of Kobe Bryant in 2014 or Wesley Matthews in 2015.
Fortunately, the injury is said to be just a right calf strain. But, it’s clear to everyone that it’s much more than that. Durant, still injured, has missed the last six games. All of these games have been won by the Warriors without him touching the floor. With Durant’s free agency looming and the Warriors being unfazed, it’s clear that Durant has all of the reasons to leave Golden State.
Golden State Doesn’t Need Kevin Durant… At All
Kevin Durant obviously takes the Warriors to a new level by putting a former scoring champion and MVP on the floor. But, as the great TPR said, “The Warriors never needed Kevin Durant. They just needed him not to be with Russell Westbrook.” If the postseason has told us anything, it’s that. As I mentioned before, the Warriors are a perfect 6-0 without Kevin Durant this postseason. That includes closing out the Rockets (4-2) in the Western Conference Semifinals. This also includes taking down the Portland Trailblazers (4-0) for their second sweep in the conference finals in three years.
That 6-0 record is just this year’s postseason. If we flashback to the pre-Durant era in Golden State, history suggests that they indeed don’t need him. This Warriors dynasty began during the 2014-15 season when Durant was on the Thunder. Regardless, the Warriors achieved a 67-15 record. That was the best record in the NBA, and the success didn’t stop there. With an overall record of 16-5, the Warriors, led by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson secured the NBA Championship.
One year later, the Warriors, once again, put themselves in the history books. The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors had the greatest regular season in NBA history. They secured a 73-9 record, giving them the most wins in NBA history. En route to the NBA Finals, the Warriors came back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Durant-led Thunder in the WCF. Without Durant, the Warriors were the greatest team in NBA history. Although this year didn’t see the Warriors win the NBA Championship, the success without him was there.
Once again, there’s no dispute as to how great of a player Kevin Durant is. We all know he’s absolutely sensational. But, what is to be disputed is the notion that Kevin Durant needs to be playing for the Warriors to win. Adding a superstar such as Durant is expected to enhance any team. And, that’s what happened with the Warriors. However, as I said, they don’t NEED him. Whether it’s past years or this year, the Warriors are perfectly capable of winning the NBA Championship without Durant on the floor. This mainly stems from the fact that they have one of the best point guards ever in Steph Curry.
No Need For Durant…When You Have Chef Curry
Sometimes the best player on the team isn’t the player that makes the biggest impact. The Warriors are a prime example of that. For them, Durant is the best player, but Curry is the most valuable. Curry, during this Durant-less stretch in this year’s postseason, has shown us why he was the first ever unanimous MVP.
In the six games without Durant, which includes the Game 5 in which he got injured, Curry certainly filled the void that was left. The stretch has seen Curry averaging 34 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists for Golden State. He’s putting up those averages while shooting 45% from the field, 39.8% from behind the arc, and an extremely efficient 93.8% from the free-throw line. When you have a player such as Steph Curry at your disposal, you know that there’s always a chance to win. With any other team, you may struggle to replicate the production of Durant. But, with the Warriors, it’s not needed. Why? Because a two-time MVP is on the floor.
This isn’t new to Curry either. In 2014-15, Curry was just fine without Durant. That 67-15 record was made possible because of Curry’s breakout season. He averaged 23.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. In the season following that, not only did Curry repeat as MVP, but he also became the league’s first-ever unanimous winner. He secured 131 first-place votes off the court and 73 wins on it. This was all without Durant. This is a player who’s the second-best on his team. Durant getting injured only enhances what Curry will bring to the table.
To speak to how much the Warriors don’t need Durant, we can turn to how they perform without each player on the court. Since KD joined the Warriors, when he plays and Stephen Curry does not, Golden State holds a 28-18 record. This leaves the Warriors on pace for only 49 wins, which wouldn’t even be good enough for home-court advantage in the first round. However, when Curry plays and Durant doesn’t, the Warriors boast a 33-4 record. That’s on pace for the most wins in NBA history with 73. It sounds familiar, doesn’t it? But, beyond all of that, as good as Durant has been for Golden State, we all know he’s capable of much more.
How Much Can KD Do?
Kevin Durant is in the ideal situation. He gets to go to the NBA Finals every year while playing on the best team in the NBA. On top of that, he gets a huge burden pushed off his back by playing with Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green. Although this is a dream scenario, we must not forget the player Durant once was. In Golden State, he isn’t the man. Maybe it doesn’t matter as much, but leaving Golden State gives Durant the opportunity to be more of that stone-cold player he was before arriving in Oakland.
In three years with Golden State, Durant holds averages of 25.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. These are great numbers considering the situation that he was in with another superstar. Nonetheless, it represents a drop in his performance.
In his last seven seasons in Oklahoma City, Durant averaged a staggering 28.5 (+2.7) PPG. This went along with his 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists averages. In OKC, Durant also achieved a multitude of personal accolades. From 2010-12, he led the league in scoring. In 2014, he not only led the league in scoring again, but he also won MVP. In Golden State, he has zero MVP awards and scoring titles. Durant only has two NBA Finals MVPs won in ’17 and ’18.
The point to get across here is that Durant would be a better player away from Golden State. Getting away from the championships and the team accomplishments, he needs to think in terms of himself. With the Warriors, he doesn’t get the chance to maximize his talent. He’s more than just another star on a team. He’s capable of being the man for any franchise, and being next to a player like Curry turns the light away from that fact. But, Durant needs to also think about his legacy.
Kevin Durant’s Legacy
Part of what he’ll be remembered for is being one of the most dominant offensive players we ‘ve seen. The rest of that legacy will be for making, what many consider, the weakest move in NBA history. He joined a 73-win team after blowing a 3-1 series lead to them in the WCF. For now, Durant hasn’t been able to win a championship without the help of Curry, Thompson, and Green. Although, he did hold his own. It brings to question whether Durant would have any championships if it wasn’t for the Warriors’ core.
With his free agency looming, Durant can change the narrative. He’s someone who knows how we perceive him and his decisions. We know what Durant is capable of. Leaving the Warriors and taking on the reins of another team as the franchise player would change his story. Not only would his game be taken back to the level it was in OKC, but he’d find the success that he had before Golden State.
Both the Knicks and Clippers (the teams reportedly most-likely to sign Durant) are teams with no apparent star. If Durant brings his talent to NY or LA and brings a championship, all that talk about him being “weak” or a “snake” would suppress.
KD, Leave Golden State
In three years with the Warriors, KD has had a great stint. Two championships (and a probable third) is everything a player can want. But, Durant has to leave. The Warriors don’t need him to win. Kevin Durant is capable of so much more, and with Curry in Golden State, he won’t be able to show that. No matter how the Warriors’ season ends, Durant must leave Golden State.