KD joined a Golden State Warriors team that won 73 regular season games during the 2016 season.
Kevin Durant is one of this generation’s best basketball players and most prominent stars. But great as he is, KD is often questioned for winning two titles with a Golden State Warriors team that already had three all-stars in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
That tenure in Golden State is why the First Things First host Chris Broussard doesn’t think Durant is truly an all-time great.
“I don’t think he’s firmly in the Top 20 players of all-time,” said Broussard on First Things First. And the reason I say that is because he hasn’t proven he can lead a team to a championship, the Golden State teams were ready-made, right there, and he was great. But he didn’t lead them.”
“If KD stayed in Golden State, this might be the LeBron-KD era, maybe the LeBron-KD-Steph era. Because he left, it’s the LeBron-Steph era. I’m not sure if he’s firmly in the Top 20 players of all time.”
— @Chris_Broussard explains: pic.twitter.com/2mw6DLXYX9
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 27, 2024
KD hasn’t adjusted his game
It can be recalled that in 2016, Durant joined a Golden State team that won 73 regular games the previous season. That 2016 Dubs team went to the Finals but saw LeBron and the Cavs rally from a 1-3 series deficit to win Cleveland’s first world championship.
Meanwhile, Durant won back-to-back champions and Finals MVP awards in 2017 and 2018. However, not only did he join a loaded team, but Durant has also not adapted his game to the current NBA era.
“I look at Kevin Durant; he’s a great shooter,” added Broussard. “Name one thing he’s added “Has he added to his game? He is a great scorer. Has he added anything to his game? He’s a solid rebounder, solid defender, solid passer. He has not even adjusted with the three point era. He takes 5 three-pointers a game. He’s a great three-point shooter, He’s 39% for his career. He should be shooting nine three-pointers per game. He hasn’t even made that adjustment.”
Broussard has been a critic of KD for a long time
Broussard belittling Durant’s greatness by using KD’s Golden State tenure isn’t new. In 2019, Chris and KD debated that topic. The Fox Sports analyst then revealed that he and Durant had several lengthy social media exchanges that year.
“In the past year, I have 60+ IG & Tw DMs from KD, mostly from 3 convos initiated by him spanning 5+ hrs each. I won’t expose them out of respect 4 KD & others I text with. I will continue to love, respect & pray for KD – & objectively analyze his game.” revealed Broussard.
Maybe Broussard is merely trying to give Durant constructive criticism, but his words rub off differently. Or maybe KD is just too sensitive about his two championships won in Golden State.