Throughout NBA history, there have been decisions that still spark conversation, and Kevin Durant’s move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 is one of the most memorable. Leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to team up with Stephen Curry, Durant faced a wave of backlash. Now, years later, the Phoenix Suns forward has addressed the controversy surrounding his choice.
When Durant announced he was signing with the Warriors, it reshaped the NBA landscape. Many fans felt the move disrupted competitive balance, accusing Durant of chasing a title by joining Curry and the Warriors at their peak.
In hindsight, Durant’s time with the Warriors was a massive success. Over three seasons in Golden State, he secured his only two NBA championships. Yet, despite leaving the team more than five years ago, the decision remains a defining moment in his career.
During a recent appearance on “The Draymond Green Podcast with Baron Davis,” Durant acknowledged that some fans will never let it go. However, he made it clear that their opinions don’t matter to him, as he cherished his time with the Warriors and the success they achieved.
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I’m sure some people are not going to let it go,” Durant admitted. “I won’t say that they are mad or still angry about it, but I don’t think they’re going to forget that I went to the Warriors. It will always be a talking point when it comes to my career”.
“But I don’t give a s— because we did some incredible things, and it was some of the most fun times of my life moving around as a Warrior,” he continued. “It’s gonna be people that love it, it’s gonna be people that hate it. At the end of the day, it happened”.
Durant’s time with the Warriors
The loudest critics of Durant’s move to Golden State were likely Oklahoma City Thunder fans. Durant chose to join the very team that had eliminated the Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, where OKC had blown a 3-1 series lead. However, the move to the Warriors proved pivotal for Durant, as it led to him winning two NBA titles.
Durant was a key part of the Warriors’ “Golden Dynasty,” teaming up with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to dominate the league. Beyond the two consecutive championships, Durant earned Finals MVP honors in both title runs, solidifying his place in NBA history.
The Warriors came close to adding a third consecutive championship in 2019, but Durant suffered a devastating Achilles injury during the Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Without him, Golden State fell to the Raptors in six games, marking the end of an era for the Warriors.
