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Fleeing Warriors for Joining Forces With Kyrie Irving, Does Kevin Durant Deserve Love From Dub Nation?

Published 10/21/2023, 4:26 PM EDT

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Most NBA players’ careers pale in comparison to Kevin Durant. This is because the 2007 2nd overall pick has achieved every milestone associated with basketball. However, his moves in order to get to those significant moments have been questioned by many hoops fans and analysts alike. Despite doubters tainting KD’s accomplishments, it’s hard to deny them.

The Slim Reaper‘s career underwent several changes over the years. After he won the MVP in the 2013-14 season, he couldn’t secure a championship ring with OKC. Surprisingly, he chose to join the Warriors, a team that had dramatically defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder just the year before. Birthing the Dubs Dynasty.

Kevin Durant and Warriors Saga

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Before KD’s arrival in the Bay area, the Dubs had already won a championship at the height of the MVP Steph era. However, the Dubs suffered a major loss the very next season. Despite having the most successful regular season in the history of the league winning 73 games, they failed to bookend the season. This was due to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving snatching the chip away from the Warriors in 7 games.

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Due to the gut-wrenching loss, the Dubs turned to KD who, after several years of trying, hadn’t won a ring in OKC. In a highly criticized move, Durant left Westbrook and company to join the Warriors and the rest is history. Upon his arrival at Golden State, KD and company dominated the league for the next two seasons, becoming back-to-back championships. As a result, it solidified the Dubs as a dynasty.

In the very next season, the Warriors made it to the finals again. However, this time, they lost to the Toronto Raptors. This was due to many players on the team being injured, including KD. Although Kevin Durant did play in game 5 scoring 11 points, he had a chilies tendon injury. Which squandered the three-peat hopes for the fans. In 2019, KD opted to go to the Brooklyn Nets, joining forces with former rival Kyrie Irving.

Many in the league questioned this move, especially Dub Nation, who were heartbroken due to it. Despite this, does Kevin Durenant Deserve love from the fans?

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Should Dub Nation show Love to KD despite Him Fleeing the Warriors?

The question is a tricky one, yet in all likelihood the Dubs fans should have Love for their two-time finals MVP. This is because his arrival rejuvenated a Dubs team that had suffered a crippling defeat at the hands of LeBron and Kai. His arrival sparked a fire that made it possible for the Warriors to become a dynasty. In the process, Kevin Durant won two rings also solidifying his status as a future Hall of Famer.

In the aftermath of Durant’s departure, the Warriors went on to win another championship in 2022. Giving Chef Curry his first Finals MVP. In contrast, the Slim Reaper and Kyrie Irving Duo failed to secure a championship in Brooklyn and moved to other teams last season. The two-time NBA champion hasn’t won a chip since leaving the Warriors, which immediately begs the question, what would have been if he stayed?

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Do you think the Golden State Warriors would have won more rings? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Akashdeep Banerjee

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Akashdeep Banerjee is an NBA writer at Essentially Sports. After Graduating in Journalism and Mass Communication he forayed into visual Media. A fan of the NBA for the better part of a decade.
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Edited by:

Parth Sharma