"I'd be like 'I don't think I made a bad decision, I just think I made a decision that didn't make it as easy'" - Kenny Smith on what he would've felt if he was in Kevin Durant's shoes after Warriors' 4th title in 8 years
Kenny Smith believes the Golden State Warriors' fourth title in eight years should motivate Kevin Durant rather than upset him.
It would not have been easy for Durant to watch his former team win the title. The result of the finals seemingly amplified all the noise that suggested they didn't need Durant to begin with. The Warriors reached the top of the mountain once again after defeating the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals.
Golden State was down 2-1 but won three straight games, including two at TD Garden in Boston, to wrap up another title. Steph Curry was named the Finals MVP after a dominant series that showed the basketball world that he could lead the team once again without Kevin Durant.
Many believe Durant made the wrong decision by leaving a winning organization in Golden State and one of the best-ever point guards in Curry. TNT analyst and two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith, however, believes Durant should draw motivation from the Warriors' latest title success.
Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd interviewed Smith on his show, "The Herd," and asked him if Durant should be upset watching the Warriors win. Smith responded:
"I don't know if there's sadness for KD. ... For me, I would be more engaged to win it. I would be like 'OK, the guys that I left, won'."
He added:
"'I'm gonna show the world - and show myself more importantly - that I could do it as well because I don't think I made a bad decision. I just think I made a decision that didn't make it as easy.' That's how I would think."
Regardless of whether Kevin Durant takes this as an insult or motivation, the world may view him differently now. He left the Warriors to win on his own and has won just one playoff series since. On the other hand, the Warriors just won the NBA title and their playoff record without him speaks for itself.
KD was a trust fund baby with the Warriors https://t.co/vY7fEqtkbY
Nick Wright believes this postseason was the worst-case scenario for Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant didn't just watch his old team win the title. He watched them win the finals against the team that swept him and the Brooklyn Nets in the first round.
The argument that Durant's lack of a good supporting cast was the reason for the loss is false. The Boston Celtics had the league's best defense with a 106.9 defensive rating and completely nullified Durant. He shot 38.6% overall and 33.3% from 3-point range, and the Nets struggled as a result.
Steph Curry averaged 31.2 points a game while shooting 48.2%, including 43.7% from downtown, against the same defense.
Fox Sports analyst Nick Wright believes this postseason was the worst case scenario for Kevin Durant. On his podcast, "What's Wright?", he said:
"OK, let's draw out worst case-best case for the superstars of the league. I think the worst case scenario for Kevin Durant would have been, 'I get swept in Round One and don't play well. And the Warriors win the championship.' And that is exactly what happened."
Wright added:
"I guess some would argue: Would it have been worse if they got to the Finals and lost to the Warriors? Not to me, 'cause you would have gotten to the Finals. Like, that would have been really noteworthy."
: sprtspod.fox/WarriorsTitleW…"The worst case scenario for KD would've been: gets swept in round 1, doesn't play well and the Warriors win the championship. And that's exactly what happened." — @getnickwright
🎧: sprtspod.fox/WarriorsTitleW… https://t.co/svBYLBPi2Z
Fans of the Brooklyn Nets and Durant will hope they are motivated to bounce back next season, or the lanky forward's legacy could take a hit once again.