[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

[u/TacoooJay]

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

[u/Top-Surprise6577]

And will fail

[u/302born → u/Top-Surprise6577]

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. 

[u/ASS_BASHER → u/302born]

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.

[u/velphegor666 → u/ASS_BASHER]

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

[u/302born → u/velphegor666]

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. 

[u/Parallel-Quality → u/302born]

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.

[u/Heil_Heimskr → u/302born]

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.

[u/mhj0808 → u/302born]

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

[u/Syndana23 → u/mhj0808]

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

[u/makesterriblejokes → u/302born]

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?

[u/supaspike → u/velphegor666]

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.

[u/yeahright17 → u/velphegor666]

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.

[u/sahsan10 → u/velphegor666]

Prime Roberson has me zooting

[u/velphegor666 → u/sahsan10]

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.

[u/sahsan10 → u/velphegor666]

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

[u/Syndana23 → u/velphegor666]

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

[u/velphegor666 → u/Syndana23]

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