Kevin Durant leaving the NBA interesting things about Kevin Draunt

As a Warriors fan, I feel very sad about Kevin Durant leaving the Bay Area. With my feelings aside, I understand and respect his decision.

This past season with GS, things weren’t great between him and Draymond Green and over all the whole aura in the Warriors’ locker room. Then, the way Head Coach Steve Kerr handled KD’s first “light” calf injury in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, and stated that KD should be back by Game 5 of the Finals. In my opinion, he should not have made that statement of when KD ought to be back on the court. He could’ve said that there’s no time line of his return.

Just before Game 5 of the Finals, there was a lot of pressure towards KD from his team mates, the medical staff (GSW’s and KD’s own), the sports media and the GSW/NBA fans about him proving his loyalty to his team. Let’s not forget that KD very much wanted to help his team out when the Raptors were leading the series 3:1 and he sacrificed his health/body in doing so—even if he played for a bit more than the first quarter. When he ruptured his Achilles tendon, KD started to be viewed in a much more positive light by the media and fans.

When KD joined GSW after his former team, Oklahoma City Thunder, lost to GSW in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, he was heavily criticized and scrutinized by the sports media and NBA fans. Actually, he was crucified for it from his signing with the Warriors to the first minutes of the 2nd quarter of Game 5 in the 2019 NBA Finals. His legacy was at stake/in great jeopardy. He had do something to save it.

His decision to sign with the Brooklyn Nets—along with his good friends, Kyrie Irving and De’Andre Jordan—was the the move he had to make in order to save/improve his legacy. Also, KD wants a new challenge: Take his game to another level, that is when he’ll be able to play.

KD will rehab in a new environment (on and off the court); without the heavy media coverage/scrutiny he had experienced in Golden State; and will be among his really good friends. In the 2020–2021 season, when KD will be medically cleared to play, he will make his first steps on the court without the pressure of the heavy expectations (from Warriors’ fans and media) of winning a title. The following season, he will do all in his power and with the help of his friends, lead the Brooklyn Nets to an NBA Championship; thus making his most important steps in improving/sealing his legacy as the best player in the NBA.

As a member of DubNation, I am grateful for all he’s done as a Dub, and will always consider him as a warrior. He wanted to help out his Warriors team mates and in doing so he sacrificed his body. A mercenary act? Maybe. I see it as an act of loyalty in a very crucial moment. My heart broke when he ruptured his Achilles. No, not because my beloved Dubs’ chance of three-peating greatly dwindled, but because the worst injury fell upon a unique/greatly talented basketball player and a human being with a heart of gold.

For both, KD and the Golden State Warriors, the upcoming NBA season will be a time of rebuild and of rebirth on so many levels—a difficult time altogether.

I wish Kevin Durant a speedy, possibly a full recovery, and all the best on his new journey as well as in him accomplishing his career and legacy goals.

When ready, KD will be playing in the opposite conference as my beloved GSW. I plan on rooting for both. When GSW will be playing against the Brooklyn Nets, I remain loyal to my beloved Golden State Warriors.

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