Stephen Jackson backs Kevin Durant’s criticized NBA move: “Can't play a whole NBA career, not raise that trophy one time”
Kevin Durant faced criticism after joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016. But former NBA player Stephen Jackson has nothing but love for Durant's decision.
After spending the first nine years of his career as a member of the OKC Thunder organization, Durant found himself a free agent in 2016. The superstar forward was viewed as one of the top players in the entire league. Despite that respect, Durant had yet to win a championship.
He decided to join the Golden State Warriors, who had just been to the NBA Finals. The announcement drew plenty of criticism as many believed Durant was "ring chasing."
Regardless of how others felt, it was the right decision for Durant. He went on to win two championships and two Finals MVPs as a member of the Warriors. Fast forward to today, and Durant is now attempting to win a championship as a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
While many will continue to question Durant's decision, there are some who respect it. One of those includes former NBA veteran Stephen Jackson. On a recent clip shared by Showtime's "All The Smoke," Jackson applauded Durant for his decision. Jackson said that there's plenty of money out there for players to make, but at the same time, he said the goal should be to win championships.
“Can't play a whole NBA career, not raise that trophy one time,” Jackson said. "That's why I love KD. KD said, 'I wasn't finishing my career with no championships.'"
Kevin Durant has the Brooklyn Nets on the rise
It's been a fascinating journey for Kevin Durant in the NBA. Regardless of what critics may believe, Durant still has two championships on his resume.
The challenge for Durant will be to see if he can add to that resume as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. His team got off to a slow start to the 2022-23 season, finding themselves in a dark hole early on.
.@KDTrey5 was LIGHTS OUT in December
28.3 PPG | 57.9 FG% https://t.co/BV4NIrXi59
After a loss on Dec. 4 to the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn was 13-12. Since that game, the Nets have won 12 straight games. Brooklyn is surging with confidence and has been overpowering plenty of championship contenders during its impressive stretch.
One of the biggest reasons for that success has been the play of Kevin Durant. During Brooklyn's winning streak, KD is averaging 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He is shooting 59.2%, including 40.7% from 3-point range during that span.