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Kevin Durant’s own ‘Decision’, announced on Tuesday morning via The Players’ Tribune with the words: “I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors” has delivered wonderful anarchy to the NBA.
No fans, outside Golden State’s increasingly tech-bro Bay Area/Silicon Valley fanbase, wanted to see Durant team up with the already historically legendary Warriors team.
The obvious comparison to LeBron James’ reviled Decision was both due to James’ teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a Big Three, and the nature of the hour long TV spectacle.
Durant makes him an instant villain. Fans want stardom to rise above and carry teams to greatness – as per James’ return to Cleveland and the win this year.
He joins an historically great team to chase Championship rings in a manner that leaves a deeply sour taste in the mouths of many, and scares the 29 other teams left now to piece together the rest of free agency.
Rather than fight to create a legacy, he joins one midway through a winning streak halted only by an all-time Finals performance by LeBron James.
He joins the 73-win Warriors after coming within one game of defeating them in the Western Conference Finals with his ex-Oklahoma City Thunder team.
The Warriors now hold arguably two of the top three players in the league in Stephen Curry and Durant, and combined with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, four of the top 10 to 15 players.
Durant’s own words are being dragged up to haunt him, in what will likely be the most dragged up old tweet in the history of the NBA.
Now everybody wanna play for the heat and the Lakers? Let's go back to being competitive and going at these peoples!
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 16, 2010
The Western Conference becomes more stacked and imposing, with the Spurs, LA Clippers, and Oklahoma now fighting what would seem to be insurmountable.
Russel Westbrook, discarded by Durant, now leads a less-than-stacked Oklahoma City squad, hoping to get a lot out of new acquisitions Victor Oladipo and 11th draft pick Domantas Sabonis.
The Warriors face minor dilemmas – Durant’s two-year deal (second year player option) with them valued at $54.3 million, means Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli won’t fit under the cap and will be traded. That leaves them short on true big centers outside of the flailing Anderson Varejao, but they only need a defensive minded big that can grab rebounds.
Scoring won’t be required with this offensive arsenal. Free agents will be lining up out the door.
The Warriors front office, led by Jerry West, have pulled off a giant coup. Many factors had to fall together – the giant new TV deal opening up cap space in a giant leap, rather than smoothed, and a fantastically small contract that took a risk on Curry.
Durant says he’s moved out of his comfort zone to find his greatest potential. Many will say he’s simply joined that which appears to be easiest to gain a ring, failing to strive for true glory as a superstar willing to rise against. Durant will hear boos across the nation. LeBron has become the saviour in the space of a season.
Provided all stay healthy, put your money on a Warriors vs Cavaliers Finals. Just don’t count on LeBron and co. being able to overcome a ridiculous Warriors team.