While many say competition can be the breeding ground for improvement and can lead to some great accomplishments, sometimes it is simply easier to improve by joining the competition. This world is full of competitive people who push themselves to succeed, who go to the very brink of self destruction to become more than they were before. In the world of the NBA this fact is especially true. These athletes take more of a beating than their detractor’s would like to admit, and have a finite window to succeed and obtain the ever elusive NBA championship.
In the wake of Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warrior’s I have seen a lot of negative commentary from player’s, commentators, and fans alike. Unfortunately, I disagree with the sentiment that this decision makes him any less of a player. While this may seem odd given my comments on LeBron’s decision from several years ago, I view the two situations as completely different.
This was a sound Basketball decision that numerous other players in history have made. When Ray Allen left Boston to join the Miami Heat there was not this type of backlash. When Lamarcus Aldridge and David West joined the Spurs there was not this sort of a reaction. Kevin Durant did the exact same thing that these players did.
Sure Boston was on the decline when Ray left and there were some mixed emotions in regards to his role, but he left for a rival and the only person that reacted negatively was Kevin Garnett. David West left a team that had just been to the conference finals the season prior to their super star Paul George breaking his leg for Team USA in the offseason. Lamarcus Aldridge left a Blazers team that was rapidly becoming a Western Conference Power and perhaps would have been one if not for an untimely injury to Wesley Matthews.
While I am sure fans of the teams that those players left were upset, there were no massive jersey burnings, commentators did not get in front of a camera or take to their keyboard to attack the character of these men, yet when Kevin Durant does the same thing he is Public Enemy number one. A man that the NBA once considered the nice guy, a player who kept his calm, a player who it was rather uncharacteristic to see make rash comments. A player who gave one of the most heart warming acceptance speeches when he won the Maurice Podoloff trophy.
How can Kevin Durant be a bad guy? Simply because he left a team that was making a lot of noise in the Western Conference for the team that they lost to in the Conference Finals? Because he left them for a team that could be considered a rival?
I personally say that all of those issues are utter nonsense. This was a great basketball decision for a player that wants to win a championship. He weighed his options listened to offers from other teams before settling on the one he felt would best further his career goals. For some choosing the Warriors might come as a shock, but as soon as it was announced that the Warriors knew they could have cap space to sign him people had to know he would listen to their offer and most likely give it a thought or two.
He had an opportunity to go to a franchise that was built to win and took greater risks than OKC. Losing a top five talent because you would rather not pay a luxury tax is not a good way to build a basketball team and their on court performance has suffered due to James Harden’s departure. Then you watch as the player valued higher than the third best player on the team is traded to the Magic for Victor Oladipo who is essentially Russell Westbrook light.
People will say that Kevin Durant supported the team when they made those decisions, but they must realize who Kevin Durant is. He is not the player that bashes his team or his teammates. He is not the player that will demand a trade because he questions the team’s leadership. He is a quiet and reserved player, which is why he is considered to be a nice player.
His history as being a likeable and coachable player who never griped or complained is a huge part of why I am accepting of his decision. He gave the Thunder 9 years of his life and in that time they dismantled a championship contender through various poor negotiations , doing what was best for their pockets. In the end he did what was best for him and his future goals and I do not see anything wrong with that.
