Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City in 2016 leaving fans with a sour taste in their mouths. Joining the Golden State Warriors, the team that beat them in the Western Conference Finals a season prior, Durant was labeled as a ‘snake’ and a ‘sellout’.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Since then, Durant has done his best to silence fans questioning his character and legacy. He won two championships in Golden State, but those two rings weren’t enough to fully salvage his image. Fans want to see Durant go the distance on a team where he’s the clear number one option — not on the greatest team of all time.
With the Phoenix Suns getting swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves this postseason, fans are questioning whether the Suns should keep their star trio or blow it up. Suns owner Mat Ishbia has stated that he plans to run it back around Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal — but that hasn’t stopped fans from creating alternate scenarios for next season.
A fan posted to X on June 11 at 1:42 a.m. Pacific Time stating the following:
The only way KD can redeem his legacy is if he returns to the Thunder and wins them their first ever championship.
LeBron style.
Then all his sins will be forgiven.
We good? @KDTrey5
— Just Phil (@Philosfy) June 11, 2024
“The only way KD can redeem his legacy is if he returns to the Thunder and wins them their first ever championship,” the post read. “LeBron style. Then all his sins will be forgiven. We good?”
@Philosfy wants Durant to do it “LeBron style”, reminiscent of when King James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers and brought a championship to the franchise he started his career with. James, however, had different aspirations, as Cleveland was his hometown growing up. Durant has no affiliation to Oklahoma outside of his time spent with the Thunder.
Bright and early at 5:09 a.m., Durant himself responded to the post, stating the following:
U ain’t god. Go get ready for work
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 11, 2024
“[You] ain’t god,” Durant said. “Go get ready for work.”
Durant’s reply received 72,000 likes and 2.6 million views in just under six hours after being posted. In simpler terms, Durant told the fan that he can’t decide what exactly his legacy is. Durant has frequently spoke on his “flawed” legacy, and has mentioned that his legacy isn’t defined by what the fans think.
He’s focused on the game of basketball and his own individual and team success, rather than what fans perceive his legacy to be. His talent and longevity combined with the adversity that he’s overcome health-wise is what defines his legacy, and he’ll continue to work towards accolades throughout the remainder of his career, no matter what team he’s on.
https://burncitysports.com/2024/06/11/suns-reportedly-hire-former-washington-head-coach-as-assistant/
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
