Kevin Durant: A Villain Because He Wants to Win(?)
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Forgive me for it is probably a "dead" issue. But I had to vent about it.
Before I begin, let me say, I am not a Kevin Durant fan and lost a good bit of respect for him over the years with his on-court attitude and my favorite bit was when he was talking junk to former teammate and current Pistons guard Reggie Jackson while he was sitting on the bench one game for "rest" and the comments afterward, saying "I could have played but......" nonsense. But I also understand he is one of the top 5 players in the game today and maybe the best offensive player in this era (yes, over Steph) and do think his play is great. But this bit of being booed wherever he goes now because he did not sign with a team that had hoped to get him (Boston), is also nonsense.
I get it: he is a villain now in basketball, ranking up there with the likes of LeBron. That's perfectly fine. Sports needs bad guys. But are we booing a guy who wants to win instead of taking the money? Seriously? Do we want to cheer for a sell-out instead?
I get it: if you are an Oklahoma City fan, you have EVERY RIGHT to boo the guy because he left your team, your city, etc. especially when the Thunder ended up so close to taking out the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals last year. The comparison I keep hearing and it is a good one is that what would people do had Michael Jordan left the Bulls to play alongside the Bad Boys Pistons? Would people everywhere outside of Detroit flipped out and considered Jordan a "Bad Boy" in his own right for joining the team he couldn't beat? Probably.
But to the other teams outside of the Bay Area and Oklahoma City? You're booing him because he wants to win? I get it, people will probably tell Durant he couldn't do it without mega help of the likes of Curry, Green, and Thompson and there is validity to that. But Durant is never one to care about what other people think. Doesn't bother him at all.
Curse these two players for wanting to win too!!!!
And the funny part is, Durant has not been the first one to do this. LeBron did it 6 years ago and yes, he got flak for it, but he didn't care. Malone did it at the end of his career, leaving Utah for the Lakers. Nobody batted an eye. Barkley (who criticized Durant heavily for the move) practically orchestrated his trade from Phoenix to Houston Garnett did the similar bit from Minnesota to Boston. Nobody batted an eye. In fact, everybody got pumped up for the idea about super-teams happening whether it was to off-set the Jordan-led Bulls of the mid-90's to going agianst Kobe and the Lakers in the late 2000's.
So, Boston, you mad?
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
So why does Durant get the heat? Why does Durant get the heat from BOSTON fans among all people? Because he didn't sign with your team? Get over yourself. He had no ties with Boston or any other place that wasn't Oklahoma City. Durant made the best move for him and his career. You cannot fault a guy making the best career choice. But this whole nonsense of Durant leaving for a better shot at the title to me at least is silly. And this is coming from a person that does not like Durant at all.
