Obviously there would be some knock-on effects of this, who knows where Kyrie and eventually Harden would go instead of Brooklyn if KD wasn’t there and how that would’ve changed the NBA. But looking at just KD himself, he had led Golden State to back to back championships, and he was injured in 2019 so that loss was not on him. He would’ve been out for all of 2019-20, but in 2021 and especially in 2022 he could’ve won another championship(s) in Golden State instead of dealing with the dysfunction in Brooklyn. While the circumstances surrounding his departure from OKC would still hurt his legacy, he would likely be viewed as just as big a part of the Warriors dynasty as Steph, Klay, and Draymond if he stuck around for longer and they won another title or two together. Instead he’s saddled with the perception that he simply hitched his wagon to a team that would have succeeded with or without him, and has won a title without him while KD has not won without them. What do y’all think?
He’d be more relevant and more hated
He’s have enough rings that the love would be greater than the hate
The love? I would say the respect. Not necessarily love.
Hate would grow tbh, the more the KD-warriors win the more they will be hated, and KD being the easiest target would get the most hate.
That 4th ring was loved so much because it was less of a “4th” Warriors ring, and more of a “OG trio redemption” and “Steph is better” ring. Add KD to that playoff season and all that good will and support goes away.
Winning always changes people perspectives to be more favorable to the winner in time. Name someone who was less liked after winning multiple championships.
Literally Kevin Durant
Much better his main criticism was he went to golden state because he couldn’t win alone, him leaving has almost confirmed that mind set because he’s been apart of 3 big 3s off the warriors and none have resulted in a title going into his age 35 season. Curry also won another without him which has now put him above kd which many didn’t have him prior.
If he stayed in golden state he would’ve won another and it would’ve started to look like the dynasty didn’t really start until he got there. But even so with him there it would’ve always been a debate of if it was him or or curry responsible.
If he would have stayed and stuck to the “I love playing free unselfish position less basketball and found my ideal team with the Warriors” then I think everyone would have come around. But by the last season he spent all his time being butt hurt people liked Steph more, Klay took too many shots, and not getting along with Draymond (he gets a pass here). If he really wanted to play beautiful basketball - why leave?
For a minute I thought you said, “If KD were still alive today.”
At least we wouldn’t have that brain deceased take “we won without you”
Depends how many rings he has now.
the funny thing is that it would be better if he stayed. people hate KD for joining the Warriors yet also hate him for leaving them
I just wonder if it would make the Curry vs KD debate more or less vitriolic
Less cause it would just depend on who won the FMVPs so probably KD since he was already up 2-0. Him leaving and Steph winning another without him and getting fmvp was a blessing for Steph’s career.
He’d be even more hated but he’d also would have left an even bigger mark on NBA history because Warriors might have threepeated 2021-2023
So all depends on your perspective
The debate on where exactly to rank him and Curry would have been insane lol