“These playoffs went as badly as they l could’ve gone for him” Nick Wright believes Kevin Durant took the worst toll on his legacy after the 2022 season
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Kevin Durant and Nick Wright
The 2022 Season might have ended in the best possible way for Golden State Warriors, but as per Nick Wright, it badly impacted Brooklyn Nets marquee scorer, Kevin Durant and his legacy. To add to it the former feels, KD will be left to do all to regain the respect he had for all who questioned his decision to leave the Dubs.
It is just a matter of a season to make or break a player’s reputation as “Great” or “Superstar” in the league. And Kevin Durant experienced just that in the current season. Kevin Durant was considered one of the best players in the league just at the start of the 2022 NBA season and even his team was considered strong favorites for the title his season. But “Slim Reaper” had to qualify through play-in games and then even got swept away by the Celtics in 1st round. While his former team, Golden State Warriors was never in Championship discussions, but went on to win the title and defeated the same team who won against Kevin Durant and his Nets in 1st round.
KD finally broke his silence surrounding the 2022 NBA Finals, congratulating his former team, the Golden State Warriors, on their win. He then shared some head-scratching thoughts on social media about his legacy being in question in wake of their victory. It was a rather disturbing one and attracted many eyes. As per Nick Wright though the Warriors’ win had a bad impact on Kevin Durant’s Legacy
Kevin Durant lost in Golden State Warriors’ Win?
“I’ve been dead since July 4th, 2016,” he said, in response to someone who suggested his legacy is now dead. Well, what’s the significance of that date? On this day that Durant revealed his decision to leave Oklahoma City and sign with Golden State — right after the Warriors eliminated the Thunder from the Western Conference finals.
Then Kevin Durant thrived with the new employers, as he went on to appear in three consecutive NBA Finals, winning championships in 2017 and 2018. He was Finals MVP on both occasions and fulfilled his dream of being at the top of the NBA league.
But then, Durant left Golden State to do his own thing in Brooklyn in 2019 and the Warriors missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons after his departure. Many fans did co-relate both the things as even though the Nets were not riding high on any sort of success; KD was yet to take the floor. At the same time, the “Dynasty” team lost 2 consecutive playoff berths and had a poor 33-37 record in the 2021 season.
But a turn of the season was the worst thing that happened to KD. He played his 1st full season with Brooklyn Nets and made it to the playoffs. But they were swept aside by the Boston Celtics team in the very first round. Whereas Golden State Warriors had perfect rhythm in the postseason and Stephen Curry led the team to their 2nd NBA Championship without Kevin Durant.
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Nick Wright considers that KD is hit hard by the Warriors’ win
Sports analyst Nick Wright, on the first take show, sees the Warriors’ win as the last straw taken from KD’s Legacy. “This” Warriors team was beaten by the Cavs in 2016, from 1-3 deficits and KD’s inclusion in the team allowed the Warriors to dictate the next 2 NBA Finals. But now the team won against the Celtics – a team defeating KD in the 2022 playoffs.
On Monday’s “First Things First,” Nick Wright reacted to the Nets star’s remarks and explained why he thinks Durant’s legacy isn’t in question, despite the Nets’ abysmal early playoff exit.
He said, “You’d be like, ‘Oh boy, that’s a far-fetched scenario, but yeah that would be the worst-case scenario.’ And that is exactly what happened. In that regard, it didn’t exactly go swimmingly for Kevin Durant.”
But sympathizing with 33-years old Megastar, Nick added “We in the media must be fair and honest and admit this. When Durant was in Golden State winning titles, we all said, ‘If KD wants a real legacy, he’s gotta leave.’ Then he left.” Nick added, “So I do think this is true. These playoffs went as badly as they could’ve gone for him. I also think, if I’m KD, I’m like – I’m sitting there, maybe smoking, playing some video games, get a Twitter alert like, ‘God dog it! This again! What do you people want from me?!'”
Though Nick tried to give KD some chance in the debate, there is no question that, the Warriors also had difficulties in the past when people were reaping them apart, and now KD can only have a winning laugh if he could deliver at the Nets.
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Kunal Chawda
(600 Articles Published)