Since the very moment Kevin Durant stepped onto the court in a Houston Rockets jersey, the spotlight has been on him. And now, after his debut stirred fresh debate, ex-Warriors star Gilbert Arenas has jumped to his defense on Gil’s Arena, shutting down talk that Durant can’t lead without Steph Curry.

Arenas’ fiery defense not only reignited the age-old Durant-Curry debate but also exposed how easily critics miss the bigger picture of KD’s post-Warriors journey. “What he did in Golden State … has he not done it everywhere else?” Arenas asked, highlighting Durant’s production post-Achilles. “Off his injury … he averaged 27, 7, and 5. Played 35 games. What about the other players he went there with? Did they show up? No.” He referred to Kyrie Irving and James Harden, both sidelined throughout Durant’s turbulent Nets tenure.

Arenas also stressed that numbers alone cannot capture Durant’s influence on the teams he plays for: “We’re not talking about numbers. We’re talking about who Kevin Durant was when he got to Golden State and helped them win.” Kenyon Martin also weighed in, backing up Arenas in his sentiment by framing Durant as a player who always performs, regardless of the circumstances, saying, “Yeah, that’s his goal. So he is showing up. He is showing up.”

But not everyone sees it this way. Arenas’ co-host and former player Rashad McCants argues that roster turnover and injuries have stopped Durant from replicating the “championship swagger” he used to. “When it comes down to Brooklyn, it was an injury. Comes down to Phoenix, there was injuries,” McCants said on Gil’s Arena. “Now, as soon as he got there to Houston, first thing happened. Injury, all detrimental pieces too. These are not just a couple good dudes on the roster.” McCants referred to the recent Fred VanVleet Achilles tendon injury before the preseason.

Former Laker Nick Young added fuel to the fire, making it clear that he views Durant as carrying an invisible weight: “Every time you bring it up … there’s pressure on him to try to win one because he haven’t got it done after the Warriors.” And when Brandon Jennings asked, “But what if they just have a good season and they get out the second?” Young stated bluntly, “You can’t keep leaving team for team just to have a good season.”

As Durant continues to adapt to this new team, the questions remain. Can he prove the critics wrong by leading a young team facing adversity? Or will the shadow of Stephen Curry’s rings continue to follow him, regardless of how his career pans out?

While the debate continues to swirl around Durant’s legacy, the context behind his recent years often gets lost amid the noise.

Why Critics miss the full picture of Kevin Durant’s post-Warriors journey

After leaving the Dubs, Durant faced a gauntlet of challenges that few players could navigate. In Brooklyn, team upheaval and injuries derailed a championship favorite. James Harden‘s departure, Kyrie Irving’s COVID drama, and Durant’s own ankle issues meant that any cohesion was next to impossible. Despite this, when Durant played, he consistently delivered elite numbers. Arena emphasized, “He averaged 28 on 50%, 45, and 88 … He shows up every single time. Everybody else can’t say that.” Everyone remembers the Game 7 against the Bucks in 2021, when Durant’s foot on the line robbed the depleted Nets of a first-round win against the eventual champions.

Durant’s stint in Phoenix added another layer of complexity. After very little time to gel with the team due to joining midseason, the new ‘Big Three’ of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal were expected to dominate, but crashed and burned due to injuries, lack of chemistry, and roster constraints. McCants framed the situation as, “If Book and Beal can get on the same page and Beal can stay healthy, we there.” However, Arenas countered, silencing any doubts about Durant’s production, saying, “Has he not?” making it clear that his contributions go beyond wins and losses.

Now, in Houston, Durant leads a developing roster with just one All-Star in Alperen Sengun, with a defensive-oriented supporting cast. McCants stated the weight on Durant’s shoulders: “He got pressure on him. There ain’t no more excuses.” Arenas himself has contradicted himself on Durant’s current situation, flip-flopping between positions.

However, Kevin Durant has continued evolving, showing his value despite not having the same championship success as his old Warriors teammates. Critics who focus on rings fail to see that Durant keeps delivering, especially in situations much harder than the championship-ready supporting cast he had in Golden State.