Should Kevin Durant be in the GOAT conversation? 

The simple answer is no. And the complex answer is....no.

Not a GOAT, but one of the most talented to play the game. Period.

KD is 💯 an all time great player. Zero percent he is even considered in the goat convo.

''what haven't I done'' lead a team of your own to a championship 😆

He is the GOAT of bus riders

Golden State won the title before KD and then won a title after KD. That title after KD really puts things into perspective.

If he can get a ring in Phoenix he will forever be loved in Phoenix.

KD is a phenomenal player in all but I've never once thought of him as being the greatest player in NBA history or even in the conversation of being the best player in NBA history.

“without the warriors, he would have been remembered as taller Carmelo Anthony ”

I love watching KD play. He's had a great career up to this point but he's not in the conversation. He's a top-15 to 20 player in my opinion.

"Should Kevin Durant be in the GOAT conversation?" LOL

I don’t have KD above: Jordan Lebron Kareem Magic Russell Wilt Kobe Duncan Bird Shaq Curry West Hakeem Zeke He’s more in the KG, Kawhi, Giannis and Jokic tier

Trying to slither his way into the GOAT debate just like he did with his rings

KD is the only player I've ever seen put himself into a goat purgatory, too offensively gifted to not be considered but also took the easy way out lol, the actual ring he needs is the hardest one to get.

He'll apologize to KD's mom in the morning 😂

He's in the conversation as a scorer but not overall player.

HELL NO

Phenomenal player; arguably the most talented offensive skill set ever, but him going to Golden State will always retract from him ever being mentioned in the GOAT discussion.

The mere conversation is insulting

Not in the convo, but one of the greatest for sure. As for the comparison with Bron's decision, it would be more like if Bron joined the Celtics that beat him in 2009-10.

1 mvp 2 rings is just not enough to be considered in the conversation, kareem has 6 mvps and 6 rings, and people have him 1-3 so maybe if kd gets 3 more mvps and a few more rings then maybe

The real 🐐's don't gotta ask to be in the conversation!!!

KD in the goat conversation is like saying Russell Wilson in the goat conversation😭😭😭😭

GOAT convo: •MJ •Kareem •Wilt Legendary 3: •Kobe •Bird •Magic Top 10 : •BRussell •LeBron •Tim Duncan #10-15: •Hakeem •ShaQ •Steph Curry •KD •Oscar Robertson

Stephen A. giving me chills. Facts!!!!

Kyrie was there when boston swept him i ain't trying to hear that excuse

Lmao he doesn't keep the same energy for KD that he does for Kawhi.

People are so quick to forget what happened in the Boston series in 2022

Let's put it this way: the Warriors could carry Jordan Poole to a championship. That's how easy the Warriors made it for KD to win 2 rings.

Imagine if Lebron would have joined the 2010 Celtics after loosing to them 4-3 in 09. He would not be in the GOAT debate, but that's basically what KD did. That's the difference between the 2. Lebron joined a team that couldn't beat the Celtics either. KD said F it & just joined the other team.

His move to the warriors was huge blow to the nba in a competitive manner. It would be like if the sixers blew a 3-1 to the Celtics in the eastern conference finals this year, and embiid joins the Celtics in free agency🤯

The thumbs down is for the topic, not on your professional SAS

The GOAT of riding Coattails

KD is probably one of the greatest "what if" players. If he had a bit more luck he could have won 2 more rings easily. If Russ was capable of being a starting point guard on a championship team, he would have won 1 more at OKC. Current Suns could have also won if front office didn't blow everything on Beal. Basically, he made any team he joined automatically into championship contender.

Steven A spitting facts

No. He's not even close. Barely top 10.

not a GOAT seriously but definitely one of the most talented to play the game PERIOD.

Kd is my Goat Idgf what other said

Not in terms of legacy, but in terms of actual basketball ability? He's gotta be in the conversation.

KD needs to win a ring for phoenix , he’s def going down in history as one of the greats but he needs to step up a level as a leader to be in that “goat” conversation.

Kd wasn't better than Stephen on those teams. Steph account for more offensively. And the warriors were under .500 without curry an with durant. Above .500 when curry an no kd

KD not better than; MJ Kareem Magic Duncan Curry Kobe LeBron Bird Hakeem or Shaq That’s 10 players already… and Jokic & Giannis are climbing the ladder. Durant should be happy if he’s in consideration for top 11-15

"What haven't I done"....Win without Steph..beat lebron without Steph lmao should I carry on

he was so nice at first

Kevin durant" why im I not being compare to Lebron or Mj" Also Kevin durant 1.Leaves his best friend in OKC to join the team that had just beat them and had won a championship prior 2.Joins a superteam 3.Never even got to the finals without the help of steph curry 4.Steph curry wins a ring without KD,solidifying his greatness 5.Kevin durant has never even gotten to the conference finals ever since,despite joining superteams

those 2 rings with the Warriors are more of a curse a tqrnish to his legacy, Warriors won before and after he got there. Sometimes, it's not about the result, but how you did it. Sometimes I feel also Curry needs to be questioned how he let that trade happen, that is also a weak move froma superstar, choking a 3-1 lead in the finals and getting Durant during the summer. I would put Nowitzki over Durant, that Dallas ring is pure.

Nope, at best he’s in the top 20 of all time conversation

When i think about KDs greatest i often juxtaposed it to that of CP3. KD is missing all of CPs intangibles CP is missing all of KDs physical attributes If they could combined into one player that person would automatically be in the GOAT convo.

Snake and Goat are a different breed.

Bron switches teams & teammates every season = GOAT KD switches team once = No longer can be considered GOAT

To be in the goat convo, probably gotta have at least 4 chips

Straight hypotheticals to defend KD with this subject. “I believe if this or that would’ve happened” hilarious.

Durant just doesn't have the leadership skills, he is one of the greatest but not in the goat conversation

No goat in any sport has ever said, they beat me, let me go join them. Simple as that.

If you have to ask..

He SHOULD be in the GOAT conversation but hes robbed himself of that. He severely undermined his potential by joining teams he shouldnt have joined and never being able to win a championship when its HIS team

Impossible because he hasnt exactly "lead" a team to a championship. He's a top 15 player for sure in my opinion & has an argument as one of the 10 greatest shooters ever(which never gets talked about). One of the 5 greatest 3 level scorers ever. Hes 35 averaging 30 on near ANOTHER 50/40/90 season. His skill cant be denied. But hell no.

Kd arguably the best small forward all time of course kd in goat conversation

WHAT I DONT LIKE... they give lebron a pass for running around the NBA joining several super-teams & he folded in more finals than anybody & they have the nerve to compare him to mike👎

Let him cook 😂😂 kd act like he not aware of these facts

KD forcing his way out 3 times in his prime doesnt look good legacywise, and joining a team that beat you makes him worse. He personify Join them if you cant beat them

Extremely talented! He needed the Warriors and they needed him. They in my opinion created the most perfect team ever! It was magical!❤ You are great!

Legacy wise I can’t put him there however raw skills/ability he’s all time definitely will be 1st ballot hofer

KD is my fav. player since his rookie year... and yeah! Stephen A Smith is 100% accurate about this😅 but even the haters recognized him as one of the GOAT scorers of all-time 😊... I never argue about Cupcake, Snake etc. issue coz it's true 😂 for me that's a compliment you know why? coz basketball fans see you as a cheat code 🤷‍♂️ then you join the 73-9 warriors haha.. that's why they're angry about your decision..but I'm rooting for you to win a ring in Suns ☀️

I think he's obviously a top 10 small foward of all time and a top 20 all time player. But right now that's as far as I'm willing to argue

Blowing a 3-1 Durant really should thank Curry not just for two rings but blowing a 3-1 finals lead bc if not happened we will only talk KD choking

The league has improved since KD joined the Warriors. Franchises, teams, and players have stepped it up because they know having one good or even great player is not enough to win a championship. And, even when teams have more than one great player, it still takes work and the players have to gel. It's ridiculous to expect Kevin Durant to be an elite scorer and a behavioral specialist in order for him to be in "GOAT" contention. Nobody can "lead" Westbrook, Harden, and Kyrie. These three players have gotten some of the most negative media attention over the last few years because of how they conducted themselves or how people view how they've conducted themselves. They do what they want to do. They cannot be led or controlled.

If he never left golden state and won 6 then he would 100% be in the conversation

Not in the GOAT convo, but I'll say that he's the only player in league history who I would honestly call a 6'10 shooting guard. KG and Dirk bordered on it, but neither of them could score and move like Durant.

KD has to understand we keep receipts no matter how you win he may be a champion but the way you win Matters period he join a stack deck.

KD should not be in the convo for all the reasons SA highlighted. However, we really need to establish a clear definition of what constitutes the GOAT in sports, as the criteria seem to fluctuate based on the sport and personal preferences. The debate often revolves around the number of championships won versus losses. Take Mayweather, undefeated in his career, yet some detract from his achievements by questioning the caliber of his opponents, while others laud Ali despite his five losses. In football, Brady is often hailed as the GOAT for his seven Super Bowl victories, despite three losses, compared to Montana's pristine record of four wins. In basketball, Jordan's six championships without a defeat are frequently highlighted, but then there's Kareem, who also has six titles, an equal number of MVPs, and the 2nd most points in NBA history, with only one three-pointer in his career. Then there's Bill Russell with his 11 rings, though some downplay his achievements due to the era and the nature of his competition. So, the question remains: what consistent criteria can we use to truly determine the GOAT across different sports? Or just do as Jordan said himself, don't judge athletes across eras cause they never will get to play against one another. But ALWAYS good barbershop talk though.

He is not better than Kawhi Lenard he should be in the GOAT convo. Before KD, what he did for Toronto was nuts.

Should Be In The G.O.A.T SCORER Conversation But That's It

There is no Goat debate. The only debate is who is the 2nd best. Jordan is still by far the best to have played the game

They swapped him with Jordan Poole and ran it back so I don’t care what he did on GS. He’s always been the cherry on top of a championship sundae he didn’t help build he just wanted to join. Plus he just wanted to “hoop,” he’s not a leader of men like the goats were. Jordan Lebron and Steph didn’t join a champion and become a goat by association they built it and lead it. I can’t believe this man took the easy road to greatness while they 4 on 1’d Lebron one year and he really thinks that puts him in the goat conversation 😂😂😂😂PATHETIC

So well put from start to finish and he did it with respect ✊🏽 S.A Is a savage at what he does 💯

The GOAT conversation only exists for purpose of media content. Outside of that there is no conversation really. There is MJ and that is it. Once new GOAT appears there will be no converstion needed to acknowledge that fact.

Can't be the goat but he's by far one of the best players the game has seen top 10 for sure

“What haven’t I done” ummm… Win without Steph (win on your own)

He’s definitely in my GOAT conversation, he’s my favorite player of all time. We’ve never seen a scorer like him before

I think Gilbert Arenas said the best… the GOAT debate can only be the person who is the GOAT and the runner-up. So number 1 and 2 are in the conversation and everyone isn’t… Simple. LeBron and MJ is the debate, everyone else doesn’t matter when it comes to this subject💯

Winning a ring outside of golden state still wouldn’t put him in the conversation anyways imo

Greatest Scorer of all time conversation

Its not like he's going out there saying "I'M THE GOAT" like someone else. Reporter asked him a question he answered, I think every great player should be ok with their greatness.

I see what he’s doing here. He knows he shouldn’t be in the goat debate but he’s really saying if he’s not in the convo why should lebron be in the conversation if they basically did the same thing 🤔👏🏾

Here are the reasons: 1) yes, he joined the team that beat him. Won his rings with a stacked deck. 2) only 2 rings...not enough 3) one dimensional...MJ was a beast defensively, not just offensively. 4) Never has taken his own team to the championship. 5) Wasn't the best player of his own era, let alone "of all time." 6) Outside of NBA fans, not many people even know who he is. Not his fault, just how it is.

Don’t forget that GSW also won a championship BEFORE Durant got there and AFTER he left

He needs to win another title and mvp to even be in the discussion.

If KD going to a super team creates such an imbalance in the league, then these PROFESSIONALS need to up their game. I love KD he decided to do what he wanted and decided to ignore what the public was trying to make him do with HIS career

It’s crazy people that never been competitive in their life can set narratives

Do people know what GOAT means? It means the greatest! One player. Not a bunch “in the conversation” unless all of Jordan’s stats and championships get erased somehow, there’s no conversation to be had. Stop it.

kd is pretty much in the position when kobe had only won with shaq. kobe was not considered as “goat” conversation.. at that time. it was only until kobe won after shaq, was when he entered to goat convo

The guy who gets hurt when he finally gets a shot at a title. There is a reason Michael, Bird, Magic and Kobe spent their primes with the same team. Durant has bounced all over the NBA. Put him on a top 100 list, yeah, but this was a joke topic.

From “the weakest move in nba history” to THIS question. 😂

I don’t give a damn about leadership honestly. I just simply don’t see how he believes he has accomplished enough. He’s not even the most decorated player in The league now.

Nah bro. KD was needed in Golden State. That was the only way the LeBron freight-train could be stopped..LBJ would be sitting on 5 or 6 rings if it wasn't for that KD move. We can't have that.

KD is one of the most talented players ever, but he ain‘t nowhere near the GOAT conversation.

Was there competition when LeBron went to the Heat? Why does he get a pass for those years? If anything, they actually underachieved. Aside from that point, I agree KD is not in the discussion

Quit reaching. KD has played with more NBA MVPs; Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Steph Curry. KD is elite no doubt, but if Jordan played the talent KD or LeBron played with it would have been unfair. Also imagine if Jordan played more years in a less physical league. Jordan's Bulls went 72- 10 without a stacked squad. If Jordan went to Golden State in his prime to play with Steph, Draymond, and Klay they might have lost 5 games the entire season.

KD should be in the GOAT discussion. He’s as good if not better than Bron both offensively and defensively. It doesn’t matter which team he played on. If MJ went to the warriors, he’d still be the best player ever.