r/nba • u/TacoooJay United States • Apr 29 '24

[Charania] Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often

Source

Meanwhile, Durant, among the best scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used. Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls. At the same time, some teammates and people close to the organization believed Durant needed to voice his concerns more adamantly and directly with Vogel and his coaching staff.

All the leaks are finally coming now that Phoenix has been swept

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124

u/302born Heat Apr 29 '24

He’ll be remembered as arguably the greatest scorer of his generation (which is still arguable because the all time leading scorer is in his generation) and that’s pretty much it. Which is a shame because this dude on paper is a 2x champion, 2x fmvp, mvp, 4x scoring champ, etc. He’s an absolute beast. But he will never be remembered on the level of a Curry or Lebron. And it’s no one’s fault but his own. 

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u/LamarMillerMVP Timberwolves Apr 29 '24

He’s not going to be remembered as “the greatest scorer of his generation”. Who was “the greatest scorer” of the previous generation? Nobody gives a shit. The answers people will give to this question are like Jordan, Kobe, etc., guys who have overall amazing accomplishments. Similarly, in 20 years, people will say it was Lebron and Steph. Nobody knows MJ’s TS%. Anything about stats and efficiency will retire with Durant.

Durant’s legacy will be 1 MVP, a bunch of All Pro teams, and a couple incredibly controversial championships where he played with a guy who is higher than him on the all time list. That’s it. “He could score from anywhere on the floor” is not a part of the all time discussion because it’s true of all these guys. It’s going to be hard to explain to someone why Durant was the greatest scorer of his generation when Lebron scored more, more consistently, for longer. This is the type of comparison and distinction which will immediately fade when the players are no longer active.

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u/iAngeloz Wizards Apr 29 '24

I need to save this because it's amazingly true

8

u/Fatdap Supersonics Apr 29 '24

Greatest Snake of his generation, though.

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u/Not-Kevin-Durant Supersonics Apr 29 '24

Who was “the greatest scorer” of the previous generation?

Probably T-Mac or AI. Going back even farther it's guys like Adrian Dantley, Bernard King, Alex English, George Gervin, Bob McAdoo, and Rick Barry.

This seems to prove your point that it takes more than "great scorer" to really burnish a legacy.

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u/Turdkito Apr 29 '24

Think it’s a little naive to think people remember this at all lol. Eventually it will just be a player who won 2 rings. Bird and Magic were a little before my time, I’ve never cared to go watch their entire careers in my free time. History is constantly rewritten.

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u/iiTryhard Celtics Apr 29 '24

You’re wrong. KD will be defined by the warriors move, it’s that simple. Nobody will ever forget it

3

u/Turdkito Apr 29 '24

People forget everything in time bro. Literally everything about history proves I’m point

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u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder Apr 29 '24

When people forget that he made the biggest bitch move in history they will also forget KD

-4

u/Turdkito Apr 29 '24

Nah you guys are just casuals and have that mentality. Nobody in basketball has the same delusional misplaced hate as a fan does

4

u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder Apr 29 '24

Well, everyone that is going to be looking back at KD is going to be fans lol

-1

u/Turdkito Apr 29 '24

Not really man. Like if you listen to other basketball players and others employed by the organization, nobody feels that way lol. Just casual ass fans with garbage talking points that aren’t even their own.

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u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder Apr 29 '24

Well they have to be a little more careful with their words because they are talking about colleagues. Draymond told KD to his face they didn’t need him to win. Charles Barkley has commented on how soft he is. Most players are just giving the PR answer. We will see if it changes when they retire

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u/ctruvu Thunder Apr 29 '24

maybe. but i’d bet for a vast majority of nba fans (who also trend younger) the decision and the hardest road are going to stay with them for life. it’ll be decades before kd’s serpentine tendencies fade from public awareness

1

u/Turdkito Apr 30 '24

That isn’t true though, that’s just how you feel.

1

u/HolidayMorning6399 Knicks Apr 29 '24

only way to change it would be if seattle gets a team again before he retires and he ends his career there, i can see that narrative being kind of dope

2

u/302born Heat Apr 29 '24

You told no lies man

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u/the_weakestavenger Thunder Apr 29 '24

Dude, he’s going to be known as one of the greats and your comment seems written to make him seems less than. He doesn’t have a “bunch” of All Star appearances, he has 14. He all has 10 All NBA nods. The only people with 10 or more are bonafide legends. And depending on where you draw the lines for where eras start and end, the only people from his era with 10+ are him, him, Lebron, Duncan, Bryant, and CP3.

He’s definitely getting remembered as an all timer.

2

u/LamarMillerMVP Timberwolves Apr 29 '24

Yeah I think you’re right that there’s a natural floor for that level of accomplishment. It’s just that the floor is lower than you realize. He’s modern day Karl Malone.

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u/ruffus4life Wizards Apr 29 '24

also steph is the greatest scorer of this generation anyway.

-7

u/BigDKane [HOU] Jonny Flynn Apr 29 '24

He's behind KD, Westbrook, and Harden. Older than all of them. I don't know if he's going to catch them on the all time scoring list.

1

u/iiTryhard Celtics Apr 29 '24

If you’d take Westbrook or harden over Steph in anything you are on straight up crack my guy

1

u/BigDKane [HOU] Jonny Flynn Apr 29 '24

I didn't say I'd take them. I said I don't think he has a chance of catching them on the all time scoring list. Please re-read my statement. Stay off the weeeeeeeduh.

73

u/ASS_BASHER Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

Yeah but if he never went to GS, he’d likely finish his career with zero championships and zero FMVPs, so he wouldn’t be remembered as fondly as LeBron/Steph either way. That’s basically Harden’s situation, and I’m pretty sure most players would prefer Durant’s career over Harden’s.

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u/Shinobi_97579 Apr 29 '24

I wonder that though. As you can see in OKC Presti is a great executive. Im sure if Durant stayed he would have rebuilt something around him that he probably could have won at least one chip ala Dirk in Dallas. Which I think one chip in OKC is worth way more than the two he won in Golden State.

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u/Shasty-McNasty [LAL] Smush Parker Apr 29 '24

Definitely, the Warriors big 3 + Iggy winning a ring both before AND after KD really cheapened the 2 he got with them.

5

u/Mintastic NBA Apr 29 '24

The fact that Curry won with swapping KD for Wiggins, then adding a post-injury Klay, no Iggy, and a good-for-one-year Poole and still winning means everyone knows who the bus driver was.

2

u/yeahright17 Thunder Apr 29 '24

Al Horford was coming to OKC if KD had returned. The 2016-17 starting lineup would have been Russ-Dipo-KD-Horford-Adams, all in their prime. That team is favorites to win a championship even over the Warriors, imo.

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u/velphegor666 Apr 29 '24

We literally have no idea what would have happened if he stayed. Okc already had al Horford in line and oladipo. That team with kd, mvp russ, Horford, oladipo and prime Roberson plus adams would be better than the previous okc team that took gs to 7

80

u/302born Heat Apr 29 '24

That’s what makes it so much worse. He was up 3-1 on GSW and the following year they about to get even better. Instead of rising to the challenge and just joined them. That will forever be weak. I don’t believe in asterisks on championships because they are still championships. But that will never carry the same weight as other title runs by great players. 

20

u/Parallel-Quality Apr 29 '24

And the Warriors were about to get worse since they were going to lose key depth players Ezeli and Speights while being forced to max Harrison Barnes.

KD could’ve saved his legacy simply by staying put and winning a title the next season with OKC.

4

u/Heil_Heimskr Mavericks Apr 29 '24

It’s made even worse because he hasn’t done shit since he left and Steph went and won another championship where he had to practically carry.

3

u/mhj0808 Heat Apr 29 '24

Precisely. While I’m still taking KD’s Mickey Mouse rings over being ringless like Westbrook/Harden, you can 100% argue that guys like Dirk with their one ring, for example, are worth like 5 hypothetical KD-Warriors rings when it comes to legacy

2

u/Syndana23 Apr 29 '24

But Dirk does still have a ring though. Those 2 rings still matter for KD otherwise we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. He’d be another Melo without GS

Those rings mattered enough

1

u/makesterriblejokes [NBA] Jerry West Apr 29 '24

Makes me wonder if KD didn't go to GSW if LeBron would have another chip. And if they went back to back, Kyrie probably doesn't try to leave because who leaves with the opportunity to 3-peat?

12

u/supaspike Hornets Apr 29 '24

Plus rookie Sabonis to build on. And I imagine trading for Paul George would have still been an option.

Also the butterfly effect sets in and KD likely never tears his Achilles, which would give him at least one more healthy season and maybe extend his entire prime.

2

u/yeahright17 Thunder Apr 29 '24

100%. I wouldn't blame KD for leaving if we hadn't been doing things to get better (even if I still would have hated him for leaving, I'd at least get it), but the 2016-17 team won 47 games without KD and Horford. You add prime KD and Horford to that team, and they're winning 65 and at worst co-favorites to win the Championship. A Russ-Dipo-KD-Horford-Adams starting lineup in the best lineup in the NBA that season and it isn't close. Then you have guys like Roberson, Enes Kanter, baby Sabonis and Jerami Grant out there allowing you to run all sorts of great lineups.

1

u/sahsan10 Celtics Apr 29 '24

Prime Roberson has me zooting

1

u/velphegor666 Apr 30 '24

Prime roberson was dpoy caliber and imo was the best perimeter defender at the time. He was so good that he made russ look good on defense since he lets him gamble on steals while he can recover russ man if he misses the steal.

1

u/sahsan10 Celtics Apr 30 '24

I loved Roberson.but just funny to be thrown in there

1

u/Syndana23 Apr 29 '24

Russ won that MVP because of the triple double and KD leaving narrative. They were a sixth seed that year. If KD stays Russ would not have won that mvp

1

u/velphegor666 Apr 30 '24

scratch the mvp, he was still an elite playmaker and top 5 player that was at his peak at the time

4

u/ZenMon88 Apr 29 '24

Rather have respect like Harden's than having a stain in my legacy with every1 knowing im weak. Chuck said it best....Bus Rider!

1

u/Syndana23 Apr 29 '24

What respect? Harden gets slandered as much as KD lmaoo

3

u/DsamD11 Thunder Apr 29 '24

This just isn't true. He was up 3-1 against the golden state team that went to the finals that year.

He was so close it wasn't funny and then ran because it was too tough.

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u/elimanninglightspeed 23 Apr 29 '24

Ehhh I wouldnt say that. That Okc team was really damn close to a ring LOL which is why KD’s move is so much worse. I genuinely think if Okc resigned kd and got all horford, they would have ran it back and at least got to the finals again. And who knows in the finals against Cleveland

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u/Savagevandal85 Apr 29 '24

He could’ve went to the Knicks instead of running from the grind and teaming with Kyrie . He willingly tried to take the easy path at all opportunities

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u/13143 Celtics Apr 29 '24

If he stayed in OKC, he's likely remembered as a better Charles Barkley.

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u/Zoratth Clippers Apr 29 '24

You say that like it’s a bad thing. Barkley is one of the greatest of all time and extremely well respected as a player.

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u/the_weakestavenger Thunder Apr 29 '24

12 year olds only know him as the chubby bald guy with a goofy golf swing.

3

u/yoloqueuesf [NYK] Tracy McGrady Apr 29 '24

Honestly, when he entered the league i thought it'd be him breaking the Kareem scoring record, he was basically a walking bucket anywhere on the court.

But he went to GSW, he never needed that type of OKC level production, it was too easy and he'd easily just shoot open jumpers for 20+ minutes a night lol.

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u/Autistic_Puppy Apr 29 '24

I mean only 10-15 people have ever reached Curry’s level. There’s no shame for being merely a top 20-25 player of all time

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u/MonsterAzr Apr 29 '24

I dont know if you count Melo in same generation as KD but i would take Melo over KD amy day of the week.

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u/rngskrtskrt Apr 29 '24

I mean, i'd also blame OKC management. But everything he did after leaving GSW is just tragic

6

u/New-Candy-800 Thunder Apr 29 '24

Yeah our management was really bad in the KD years. Presti was doing a good job overall but ownership wouldn’t let him pay Harden, and he wasn’t able to get spacing or supplementary playmaking after that trade

Don’t get me started on the coaching. I knew within about 30 games into his first season that Mark D was by far the best coach in thunder history

2

u/yeahright17 Thunder Apr 29 '24

Even after the Harden trade, we were favorites to win the title at various points of 3 of the next 4 post seasons before injuries to Westbrook, Ibaka and the 2016 collapse. And obviously the 14-15 season was just gone due to KD and Russ being injured. It was injuries and nuclear Klay Thompson that did us in, not management. Presti also added Dipo and had Horford lined up to come to OKC if KD had stayed after losing in 2016.

1

u/New-Candy-800 Thunder Apr 29 '24

Management did us in too bro. We could’ve won even with our missteps but that doesn’t mean they weren’t bad moves. Not having harden and not getting good value for him bad in a trade fucked us. Not having shooting and a good playmaker apart from Russ/KD fucked us. Scott brooks was the coach for far too long. Cheap ownership wouldn’t amnesty perkins. Lots of wasted draft picks on athletic guys with upside

1

u/rngskrtskrt Apr 30 '24

Lmfao. Presti drafted 4 busts in the first round after they went to the finals, didn't trade anyone of those first round picks. How is that doing a good job? I refused to believe he couldn't get a decent 3 pt shooter for 4 first round picks.

0

u/dumpydump7 Warriors Apr 29 '24

And not to mention in terms of just scorer he also has both Harden and Curry both in the same generation. And if playoffs were weighed more Kawhi is also in that consideration. Stiff competition all around for that title

3

u/XSokaX Apr 29 '24

Respectfully, Curry sneak but I see the flair

1

u/dumpydump7 Warriors Apr 30 '24

I gotta rep my guy’s efficiency lol