Gilbert Arenas goes all out on his podcast to condemn the Golden State Warriors and supports Team USA star, Kevin Durant.
LeBron James, Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry
Former NBA player, Gilbert Arenas is known for his unusual, wild takes regarding the NBA franchises, its players, and to a certain extent, former and present coaches too. This time around, on the Gil’s Arena podcast the conversations were focused on the established NBA side, the Golden State Warriors, and Team USA Olympic Gold medalist, Kevin Durant.
On the podcast, the former All-Star guard explained how the 2016-17 Warriors recruited Durant, also taking a sly jibe toward them in the process. Arenas was enraged that the Warriors never faced the same criticism for signing Durant as Durant received when he chose the Warriors, implying that he protected their legacy. In addition, Arenas indirectly claimed that Durant saved Stephen Curry‘s legacy by beating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers back then.
They are the [73-9] team who went to recruit so they could murk the rest of the NBA. Everybody put the narrative on KD for saying yes but not the Warriors for going out and getting a bazooka. Your guns weren’t big enough to beat LeBron James, that you got to go out and get a bazooka.Gilbert Arenas on Gil’s Arena
In addition, Durant’s arrival with the Warriors resulted in the Warriors handily winning the 2017 and 2018 NBA titles over the Cavaliers and James. This was despite James putting on some of the best performances of his career in those losses. Every team in the league was outmatched against the Warriors, whose run as NBA champions ended due to setbacks and Durant’s departure from the organization in 2019.
Former Warriors star makes huge declaration regarding Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Warriors
In the mid and late 2010s, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were among the top teams in the NBA. Unfortunately, they had to compete with an even superior team, the Golden State Warriors, multiple times in the Finals. Some argue that if Kevin Durant hadn’t signed for the Warriors, the Cavaliers would have won multiple NBA titles, and former Warriors star Quinn Cook seemed to agree with this.
They won in 2016 and if KD doesn’t go to the Warriors, they win again. I don’t see the Warriors beating that Cavs team. I just don’t think they matched up well.Quinn Cook on the Captain Jack podcast
Cook’s statement did spark some controversy amongst the Lakers and Warriors’ fans but it did make sense as James on top of his game despite being on the losing side.
In fact, James was so good with the Cavs that he averaged 33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in five games of the 2017 NBA Finals. The NBA legend shot 56.4% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc.
The following year, he once again led the Cavaliers to the Finals, where he recorded monster numbers. In four games, he scored 34.0 points, 10.0 assists, and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 52.7% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. However, this was still not enough against Kevin Durant and the Warriors’ superiority in the NBA back then.