"This is so unfair, we can’t switch anything ... It literally ruined like 4 or 5 years of basketball" - Evan Turner on guarding Golden State Warriors' 'Hamptons Five' lineup featuring Kevin Durant

The NBA had no answer for the Hamptons 5 when they were healthy. [Photo: NBC Sports]

The 73-9 Golden State Warriors stunned the NBA when they acquired Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016. Following a loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, the Warriors retooled by adding one of the league’s greatest scorers.

With Durant in Oakland, opponents trembled in their boots at the thought of defending against the Warriors. Evan Turner, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers at the time, recently revealed what it felt like facing the Warriors in Durant’s time.

“I remember we were in preseason. I'm looking at Mo Harkless I’m like, ‘If he curls, switch this.’ I think it was KD taking the ball out. And I’m like, ‘We can switch this and switch that.’”

Turner continued:

“And when I started looking around, it was KD, Klay [Thompson], Steph [Curry], Dray [Draymond Green], Dre [Andre Iguodala]. I’m like, ‘Bro, this is a joke! This is so unfair.’ We can’t switch anything. There’s no advantage to us….”

He concluded:

“It literally ruined like four or five years of basketball, but in a good way.”

“It was unfair. It was a joke.” - @thekidet reflects to @andre and @SteveKerr about how tough it was for he and the rest of the NBA to have to play defense against a team that consisted of KD, Steph, Klay, & the rest of the Warriors.😂 @PointForward4

🏆 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poi… https://t.co/OYaSQ1D4bI

The lineup featuring Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green was referred to by many names, including the Hamptons Five and the Death Lineup. Regardless of what name they went by, they terrorized the NBA and won back-to-back titles.

Kevin Durant on the impact of #Warriors “Hamptons 5” lineup. https://t.co/XbSeh8ftxr

If not for injuries to Durant and Thompson in the 2019 NBA Finals, they could have completed a three-peat.

Steph Curry
Kevin Durant
Klay Thompson
Draymond Green
Andre Iguodala
Shaun Livingston
David West
Zaza Pachulia
JaVale McGee

The 2016-17 Warriors were ridiculous 😂

During Durant's time with the Golden State Warriors, the team led the NBA in offensive rating in two seasons and twice topped the league in points per game.

With Kevin Durant in their ranks, the Golden State Warriors destroyed LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Golden State Warriors' Death Lineup pulverized opponents. [Photo: Fadeaway World]

After blowing a 3-1 lead to LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors made sure lightning would not strike twice. Kevin Durant’s arrival made the Bay Area team the favorites to win the title and they delivered, winning back-to-back championships. Durant won Finals MVP in both series.

Kevin Durant was the best basketball player on the floor in the 2017 NBA Finals, 2018 NBA Finals and for 11 mins in the 2019 NBA Finals.

LeBron’s passionate media and fan base felt his move to Golden State prevented Bron from catching Mike in rings, so they had to diminish it. https://t.co/mItol9YasI

The Golden State Warriors won the 2017 championship 4-1 before blanking the Cleveland Cavaliers the following season. Golden State averaged 121.6 and 116 points respectively in those championship battles.