Everything for you. Patreon: / dylandoesbasketball Twitter: / dylanhoops Tracks Used (in order): pastebin.com/f3y7vdSL Chapters: 00:00 - Backstory 06:02 - Deal With The Devil 10:06 - The Curse 22:21 - Poor Leadership. Or Misfortune?
What Durant homers refuse to let go of is the "hE dID tHe sAMe thiNg aS LeRoN" narrative. LeBron created and led a great team. Durant joined a super team creating the first ever "ultra team".
Definitely did. I couldn’t believe he did that shit and ruined LeBron and Kyrie vs Steph & Klay!!!! Like wtf KD!!! I have hated him since and I used to love him
@@mekverseedits your attempt to understand my intentions is flawed and wrong. Idgaf if you or your mother changes your opinion. I’m still going to say what I feel and that’s my right. Who the hell are you?
@@dramatyst5661 Lol don't confuse arbitrary ideas of 'honor' with work ethic. Work ethic is real, and KD has insane work ethic. He just has no honor. If he sucked at basketball he'd still be your boss, but he'd be the two-faced one that screws you over to win brownie points with upper management.
@@OutwardpdHe could never be my boss. I own my own business 😂😂. His work ethic is shit he goes to teams already built so he doesn't have to work as hard.
If Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had won a championship with the Thunder, they would have become one of the greatest duos in NBA history. I was very sad when I learned that the duo had broken up due to Durant's transfer to the Warriors.
I remember reading an article back in 2010 when they were just emerging about them saying they had a huge feeling they were gonna win a championship in the future. It’s a shame it never came to pass.
The weirdest part about all of this is that the NBA devil was Draymond Green actually hitting him up first and crying to him, then turning around and blaspheming him once he's gone. Wild times
I'll always say this. If he had to leave OKC, he couldve gone literally anywhere else and I wouldn't have been as mad. I remember working int he warehouse and everyone's jaws dropped in disbelief. One of the few times I agree completely with Stephen A smith when he said it was "The weakest move ever"
@@theonlygoodonehere2259 yeah, Im the biggest LeBron fan, and I didn't want him to go to Cleveland.... but I also didn't want him going to the other 2 team either.... Him and Harden could've had an almost unbeatable team in Houston.... brought over Kyrie instead of the pit-stop Boston.... they add CP3 and they take paycuts (esp with the cheap living/taxes of TX), they would've had 2 sets of starting lineups and they wouldn't ever get tired.... Imagine CP3 and James starting (as they did 2017-18), and then the opposition gets punched in the face when their stars are resting (along with James/CP3) and their bench has to face KD/Kyrie.... they win a 4Peat before anyone gets hurt.... CP3 is def retired by now lol!!!!
you forgot to mention how KD basically nuked the nets organization by firing their coach for not starting his washed friends and then trying to fire the replacement he made them get
@@grassy_butt2279 -KD REQUESTED NASH AS COACH. SO DID KYRIE. And they did so because they felt they could run wild on a rookie coach. Prove me wrong. I dare you.
Honestly the part of the move that really fucked with his legacy is the 2018 Finals. People forget, but there was a lot of hype for that finals, the narrative was perfect: GS up 2-1 on Bron in rings, his probable last chance as a Cav to beat them again. The Warriors, having redeemed themselves last year, looking to cement their status. Bron was also on possibly his best playoff run every, absolutely destroying teams puttin up 40-10's on the reg. And then the Warriors just mopped em. This wasn't like Bron's first finals when it was "oh well the Spurs are good and the Cavs are bad, is what it is." This was a top tier Bron on a rampage and it just didn't matter because that Warriors starting 5 is basically the most talented ever. And that's when KD winning really stopped being impressive and started feeling cheap. That's when it stopped being "he's great" and started being "the roster's great." Ironically he actually did a lot for Bron's legacy by going there too. Sure, he still gets endless shit for losing, but he gets the least shit for 2017-18 because even his haters know that the deck was stacked egregiously. He also forced a lot of reconsideration about ring culture, and guys like AI and Barkley and Reggie Miller have gotten more shine because of it. KD really forced us to consider whether the ring is more valuable than the struggle.
For your second paragraph, I think you are talking about the Mavs v Heat in 2011 as Bron’s first finals, not Spurs v Cavs, and if so, I agree. I believe the biggest detriment to Bron’s entire career and legacy was his loss to the Mavs in 2011. It was an all-time choke-job on the Superteam Heat and Bron’s part. But 2018, it would have been nice for Lebron to win, or even win a single game during that finals, but I would argue the 2018 run improved his legacy, not hurt it, as he was playing with a bunch of bums (I’m looking at you J.R Smith), with his best player alongside him being Kevin Love, going against possibly the greatest team ever constructed (that or the 96 Bulls), when the time Bron played during the playoffs that year before the Finals was incredible, especially Lebronto. I honestly think my least favorite finals of all time is 2018, because it genuinely felt insulting to not just Lebron and Cavs fans, but basketball fans as a whole to have it be a sweep and blow out. While I feel kinda bad about KD’s 2021 playoff stint, I still struggle to this day to feel bad for him or the Warriors being in bad situations right now, call me a hater all you want.
KD ruined what was supposed to be the greatest rivalry of the 2010’s: Cavs v. Warriors. He basically ruined 2 years of NBA basketball. I didn’t even watch the 2017-2018 NBA season because the ending was pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Only fans in 2017-2018 who were happy were the Warriors fans. Thats it. Tbh though I watched almost all their games and it was like a cheat code. 2015-16 Warriors played great basketball and dominated because the league could not counter them (besides the Cavs). 2017-2018 Warriors looks straight up effortless. Double KD? Curry 3. Double Curry? KD 2 or 3. Single cover either of them? Whole Warriors squad was feasting.
@@Mjj9xKD has 2 toy Happy meal rings. Dirk has a REAL championship that was earned. You can’t name me 1 a achievement KD has won since leaving Steph curry 😂
Burner account? This comment comes 1 minute after the upload , but this account is already looking for the next one lol. How ironic in KD video to use burner
@@1of1saint And if they don't? They went all the way with Booker and CP3. What if they can't even make a Finals with Booker, Beal, and KD, this fresh off the heels of BKL never making it with Kyrie, Harden, and KD.
@@bonystickmanking1250😂 “blame injuries” we don’t hold other great players to that weak ass standard. If we gonna blame injuries then we have to give Giannis a pass, we gotta give Jason Tatum a pass, we gotta give luka a pass. SMH 😡
I love your videos! I feel like the epic storylines of the 2010s are all wrapping up at the same time, can't wait for the new legends to start taking shape.
No the hell his game don’t deserve respect, he’s a sore loser who showed why he was a sore loser n left his guys and joined arguably the greatest team of all time at the time
all these comparisons saying HE SOLD HIS SOUL FOR RINGS are not even to outlandish , because he was literally the golden child of the NBA (nobody could seriously hate on him and he was only behind Lebron) and after he signed to the warriors he was immediately the most hated player in the league (maybe even in history) ... and know people recognize him more for the trade then for his insane offense
BLACKs in America will never move forward because all your consciousness is based on the past and slavery. Any and every moment it is about the NEGATIVES and the celebration of sport figures while other immgrants even of similar colour are FAR a head and doing BETTER. You people create your own struggles while blaming others. You all go apply your selves into something constructive for YOUR BLACK COMMUNITIES "SAKE" Damm!
I think he thought that the rings would bring respect. However those rings were basically given to him and were not hard to earn. Now respect, respect is hard to earn.
Maybe leave the remaining legacy back in okc like what Westbrook is doing with the clippers. Prolly pumping up the media with a “I’m sorry and imma leave everything in the court and these young studs so we can win chips” campaign
Those rings easily got him to near/in top 15 all-time. Nobody has him in the same category as Barkley, AI, Ewing, Harden, etc. Take those same rings away and Steph isn’t top 10 anymore or in debates to pass Magic. All rings count.
What Durant homers refuse to let go of is the "hE dID tHe sAMe thiNg aS LeRoN" narrative. LeBron created and led a great team. Durant joined a super team creating the first ever "ultra team".
so sad, there was almost noone who was hating on Durant when he was in OKC , he was the good boy , the hope for a next face of the nba ... he had it all , all but a spine and so he joined the team that he almost beat in the conf. finals just so he gets free rings...
How he get free rings when he was the sole reason they won and the best player in the world was on the other side?? Nothing easy about going against lebron right?
@@Lildirt15I don't think KD was the SOLE reason, He was definitely impactful but he was not a one man army. Lebron may be the best PLAYER but he ain't a team. He doesn't have Curry, Klay levels of talent teammates. Bball is a team game and it's so clear who would win in a GSW vs Cavs series back then
@@Lildirt15 There was interesting discussions and materials that can prove you wrong. What is a very similar pattern in all KD's failures - he crumbled under big stress when he was to do everything by himself. He simply is not a alpha leader player. So playing with Steph, who was often doubled and playing within system that utilised all great shooters as a screeners he blossomed. If you lose Steph on screen it was automatic 3p attempt. And he is damn good at making them, especially when not heavy contested. So you had to focus on Steph literally from halfcourt. Then there is Klay, who is the streakies shooter in the league. By miles. When he is hot he is more dangerous than Curry (or was in years with Durant). You can't leave him open either. And then you run offence through Draymond, so there are always 3 great shooters trying to set themselves free. It was near impossible to cover them all the time. And because KD was relaxed he was able to play with his pace. He is scoring machine no doubt about it. So he was allowed to play some of his beloved ISO. And it mashed well with the system, fluently changing from a team effort to simple, yet effective points. And he is extremely physically gifted, basketball wise. Long, dynamic, with good vertical, good speed and good all around coordination (which is rare among that tall players). But when KD left GSW to show the world he is the alpha dog he hit the wall. All the space and rhytm he had vanished.There are some finesse players, who dislike physical game and contact. KD is not Shaq to force contact and dunk over anyone (despite having similar reach to Shaq and nice vertical). And injuries started to affect him mentally too. If you suffer a major physical injury it changes you mentally too, believe me. It cracked Karl Malone in his LA days too.
@@Fbai69696 so we ignore lebron used a 2k chest code when kd got to the finals but when kd do it you all wanna over critique his move and discredit him idc how yall feel lebron teamed up on “STEPH AND KD” end of story so they did it back you all keep missing that point he teamed up on both of those guys and nobody says shit. Then kd and Steph does it kd is getting all this flack fuck outta here I call it how it is kd never got his fair shot with lebron forming that Miami team so kd and Steph returned that favor you not finna go around teaming up for your rings while these players just watch you do it yall azz delusional idc about nun of that shit yall saying lebron teamed up on kd and Steph first period no matter how you look at it no matter how many times yall say “kd is a failure blah blah” lebron or steph could not win with what kd had. They wouldn’t even made the finals with that okc team let alone Russ who had success with russ like kd has since he departed from Russ? Yall azz crazy lol 😂
@@imikeyirock11 kevins probably statistically got the least shortcomings in the playoffs by a superstar maybe excluding jordan. he's been in the postseason 12 times and only really shat the bed in 2022. if you wanna critizise him at least stay with the facts instead of blatantly lying and creating narratives because theres about a million advanced stats i could show for you right now.
need more videos ! would like to see the warriors dynasty ending, how cavs failed bron beginning of his career, dirk/mavs run in 2011, dwight career not top 75, tmac
Dude, I’m so glad this video showed up in my recommended. I just binged your back catalog of videos. Your content is solid, good sir. You’ve got a new subscriber.
This is one of the most thorough awesome, sports bios I have ever seen. Man 👞 o man im glad to be subscribed Dylan does basketball 🏀. He's the truth 🙏🌱, his narration, the background music from various different outlets and the different basketball 🏀 clips make this an awesome honest project
His move definitely made all of us reconsider legacy, ring culture, and the 🐐 conversation. I think having a ring is amazing, but if you earned it the way he did...it made the value of those rings...not worth it. I am still left with the need to see him get a ring outside of a super team to feel he earned it. I want to see him in an OKC like team, an underdog, because he was in an underdog team, yet he left to join a super team that had their own legacy established. He is an amazing player but he is not on the GOAT conversation yet, he has not earned that, two rings are not getting you into that GOAT conversation.
Well he was on his way to win in 2012 until lebron formed his team….then Steph was on his way until lebron once again formed his team….which made Steph and kd go….hmmm we should teach his ass a lesson about teaming up stealing rings and that’s what happened what goes around comes around d can’t be jumping on people and not expect to get jumped back
@@Lildirt15he was already on the heat for almost 2 by that point goofy😂 and lebron didn’t assemble no damn team in 2016 😂 it was the same team that the warriors beat in 2025 except kyrie and kevin love weren’t injured this finals😂🙏 you got negative iq😂😂
@@Terminator-ht3sx LEBRON FORMED TEAMS NO MATTER IF IT WAS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE FORMED TEAM OR NOT GOOFY. DIDNT STEPH AND KD LOSE TO THOSE FORMED TEAMS?? AIGHT THEN SHUT YO GOOFY ASS UP THOSE TEAMS WERE FORMED NOT ORGANIC LIKE THE WARRIORS AND OKC LEBRON DID NOT GET THERE WITH HIS ORIGINAL TEAM LIKE THEY DID GOOFY HE DID BEFORE BUT COUDLNT DO IT NO MORE AND LEFT AND 2025??!
@@Terminator-ht3sxwasnt when bron joined the heat they were already a good team??? Didnt they suddenly become the heatles because bron joined??? I see no difference in kd joining the warriors for a ring as bron leaving Cleveland and going to miami for a ring...its the same move...bron is nothing more than just a weak gatekeeper for the finals...like yeah sure getting to the finals as often as bron did is impressive but itd be pretty easy to go to the finals consistently when you get to cherry pick your teammates
I always thought KD had one foot out the door already and then his verbal altercation with Draymond was the final nail in the coffin for him to leave. That’s why I never really truly bought into the narrative that Draymond “chased him out” of Golden State like many others believe.
KD already knew he wasn’t going to stay in Golden State because the media and NBA fans weren’t accepting him as the best, even after winning 2x Finals MVPs. A third Finals MVP wouldn’t help his case and he knew it. Draymond knew this too which is why he said leave.
Yeah KD went to Golden State and thought they would treat him like Steph, then he realized everybody obviously sees Steph as the team leader and face of the Warriors (Obviously). It's kind of strange how he went to the Warriors and was surprised by things like Steph getting the glory, people not forgottening the circumstances he joined the team with, people not taking his plastic rings seriously, etc. He went to the Warriors with a ton of wishful thinking
NBA fans never letting this go. But this man’s game is the cleanest this league has seen for such a tall man. One ring with the suns will round out his career
The idea that a ring would fill a void in KD is really funny when you look at Shaq vs Chuck. Shaq is still so insecure even with the 4 rings and Chuck is good humoured and self-effacing
You can argue that Kevin Durant's smartest business decision was to join the Golden State warriors. You can also argue that the single most stupidest decision he ever made was to leave the Golden State warriors
@@curtiszyr what the fuck does that comment have to do with Kevin Durant's decision to leave Golden State? He won two championships with the Golden State warriors, he left and now he can't win. Those are the facts any other speculation is stupid
He simply couldn't stay. I think Draymond, in a fits of rage, told him how everyone felt about KD and his move, and deep inside, even KD knew that was a shitty thing to do. Also, he was probably motivated to show everyone that he can win somewhere else too, that he IS a bus driver. But then he showed us he's not.
@@HowardMoon56 yeah unfortunately it's like the basketball gods have literally placed a curse on that man. And the toxicity that has been delved into between him, Draymond, etc. If I was him, I wouldn't have stayed either. But arguments could be made that he shouldn't even left for gsw anyway.
2019 Warriors would've gotten it done... proving Durant wasn't need.. but Klay got injured... Klay was averaging 26,6,5 0n 70% True shooting 50% from 3.. we were GONNA WIN
WHY DOES DYLAN NOT HAVE MORE SUBS your video essays are awesome bro. KD was my favorite player besides Klay when he joined GS. It's sad that he really does seem cursed.
Fitting that you used Persona music. After all, KD never faced his true self. His shadow took over lol & signed a Faustian deal similar to how Igor(?) Offered. Also, you made KD's list 😂
Yea essentially, KD could’ve been in the goat convo, tbh even without a ring, bc we all knows he’s probably the most perfect player (aside from Bron) but that move to the warriors was crazy ngl 😂
I think the most tragic part about KD's legacy is going to be that his choices ruined teams that you wanted to cheer for regardless if you were a fan of them or not. Everyone liked the Thunder back then, let's be honest. Warriors were great before KD but they didn't garner anywhere near the amount of hate they did with KD or even now. Brooklyn had a really nice thing going on with that young core of players and once KD and Kyrie got there everything went to sh*t and it became a toxic wasteland nobody wanted to be a part of. Suns... well, Booker and CP3 have never been the most likeable stars and their attitude before winning anything rubbed pretty much everyone the wrong way so KD joining them was sort of fitting. In a way I think we all should thank KD because he showed that comparing yourself to others is a very quick way of making yourself make bad decisions. Yes, had he stayed in OKC he would have been #2 behind LeBron and maybe never win it all but at least he would be synonymous with the city and franchise. Now he'll be more of an afterthought with no real home for his legacy, despite being first ballot.
KDs biggest dagger was when Golden State won a title without him after he left. Golden state proved they didn’t need him as they won a championship before he came to the team and won a championship after he left the team.
Fans crack me up for the reason that everyone clowns players and invalidates them as much as possible because of no rings and then get shocked when the pushed ring culture makes players ring chase in fear. I am glad KD learned his lesson from it afterwards, but ring culture minded fans never fail to impress with their stupidity
KD joining Warriors is like Charles Barkley joining Bulls. Both are greats, both in top 20, both can't lead a team, 1 sold his soul so he doesn't get the same fate as the other one.
KD shoulda never left OKC, he'd be way more respected and would've left a far greater legacy. They could've gotten over the hurdle and won multiple championships if they stayed together. Huge what if for sure
I think KD would've been a lil more respected, but not that much. Ring culture is still huge. If KD ended his career with no rings as a major part of a winning team he would've been labeled as "great player, but he couldn't get the job done." Like Chuck, Gary Payton and others. This is arguably even worse though because now nobody thinks the two rings he has are earned, and he hasn't won anything since despite trying once again to assemble not one, but two super teams. Steph has won, before, and after KD.
@vintagemonte this is really the truth of it. KD is probably the most portable star in the league and he couldn't win with Russ' playstyle. it's unfortunate because he likely would've had a better chance had Harden stayed over westbrook
Just a superb & immaculate made video. Just great interesting valid points all around. Keep this bookmark to listen to at times. It’s crazy bc KD has become very uninteresting for me to even watch. I do t care for a Suns game or seeing highlights just feel boring to watch compared to OKC days. Promise it’s no hate bc I know he was frustrated in OKC so I don’t blame him but hey he’s getting older might come a time where he’s not demanding much money or not much in a trade & OKC gets him back possibly win a chip with that young talented squad. Be a nice story book ending but very rare if it happens
we don’t want him back in OKC. y’all can keep him, wherever his old dusty ass ends up. if he came back and won a chip with OKC, it would further cement that he is a ring chaser. The team already has high potential to win a chip or two, KD coming in and acting like he’s the reason we won would never sit right with OKC fans now, especially bc the city currently belongs to Russ and Shai. There’s a lot of talk that Russ might get a statue outside the new thunder arena
If kd doesn’t play with at least two elite guards he will request a trade. If he gets his feelings hurt, he will also request a trade. As great as he is, he is a shitty leader and the worst part is if he hadn’t joined the warriors, he might’ve been ringless, which is crazy considering how many hall of famers he’s played with even without counting the warriors.
The sad thing is that OKC really was his best chance to win a ring. Hell imagine if he didn't choke against the Warriors his ring would be seen as one of the most impressive rings of all time. Beating the 67 win Spurs, 73 win Warriors and Lebron with the Cavs. He and Westbrook choked and then he pulls the weakest move from a superstar.
