Kevin Durant boasts one of the most intriguing careers in the annals of basketball history. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Durant contends that he has not received the recognition he believes he merits. In his own estimation, Durant firmly asserts that he should be part of the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) conversation.
During an exclusive interview with Duane Rankin of Arizona Republic, Durant made a controversial statement explaining why he perceives himself as excluded from the GOAT discourse, pinpointing his tenure with the Warriors as the crux of the matter. He questioned, “Because I went to the Warriors, why shouldn’t I be in that? That’s the question you should ask. Why not? What haven’t I done.
Kevin Durant’s illustrious career includes notable achievements such as being a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, one-time MVP, thirteen-time All-Star, two-time All-Star MVP, six-time All-First Team member, Rookie of the Year, and four-time Scoring Champion. Despite his extensive accomplishments, Durant believes he still lacks the respect he deserves, primarily due to his association with the Warriors.
The scrutiny isn’t exclusive to Durant; his Warriors teammate, Steph Curry, also faces challenges in receiving due recognition. Without Durant, Curry could easily be hailed as the greatest point guard of all time, having secured four championships. However, critics leverage the Warriors’ superteam years to cast doubt on Curry’s achievements, the distinction being that he triumphed without Durant.
For Durant, joining the Golden State Warriors remains a conspicuous aspect of his career that continues to shadow him. This narrative, often an elephant in the room, contributes to the persistent lack of acknowledgment. Unless Durant secures the coveted championship ring without Warriors affiliation, this ongoing conversation is likely to persist. The discourse, however, may quiet down once Durant accomplishes this milestone.