Steve Kerr reflects on circumstances leading to Kevin Durant not playing in front of Warriors fans: "Our fans would give him a lot of love" 

Steve Kerr expressed his thoughts on Kevin Durant missing another opportunity to play in front of Golden State Warriors fans. KD won both his rings and finals MVPs with the franchise in 2017 and 2018. He was a runner-up with the team in the 2019 finals.

Durant left after the 2018-19 season and joined the Brooklyn Nets. Since then, he has played four times against the Warriors. However, he is yet to appear in front of the team's home crowd. He played one game on the road, but that was during the Covid shortened 2020-21 season when fans weren't allowed in the arena.

Kevin Durant was injured during the Nets' last two visits to the Chase Center on January 29th, 2022, and January 22nd, 2023. KD got another opportunity, this time as a member of the Phoenix Suns, to play in front of the Warriors fans on Monday, but he was injured again.

Reflecting on the unfortunate instance of Durant not getting the chance to play in front of Warriors fans, his former head coach Steve Kerr said (via Warriors on NBCS):

​

"It's nuts, it is insane cause' it's been a while... This is the fourth year. We've always kind of anticipated his return, and we've always had a planned welcome back video to thank him for everything he did for this franchise.

"Literally every game something come up... It's a shame, because I think our fans would give him a lot of love."

Warriors on NBCS

@NBCSWarriors

"It's a shame, because I think our fans would give him a lot of love."

- Steve Kerr on the strange circumstances that have kept KD from playing in front of a Chase Center crowd

614

38

"It's a shame, because I think our fans would give him a lot of love."

- Steve Kerr on the strange circumstances that have kept KD from playing in front of a Chase Center crowd https://t.co/KbwLaQOqXP

Kevin Durant was the best player on the team during his three seasons with the Golden State Warriors. KD joining the franchise in 2016 shifted the power balance in the team's favor, making them one of the greatest teams ever assembled.

The Warriors were close to winning a three-peat with Durant leading their charge. However, he sustained an Achilles tear in the finals, while Klay Thompson also went down with an ACL that ended the Dubs' hopes of winning their third championship in a row.

Kevin Durant was decisive in helping Golden State Warriors win the 2017 and 2018 championships

Kevin Durant was vital in helping the Warriors prevail against the Cavaliers in 2017 and 2018. Many believe the Dubs may have lost those finals series without the former MVP.

Warriors forward Draymond Green claimed the same, saying that teams had started to figure out the Dubs system, so getting a player of Kevin Durant's stature was necessary for their success in 2017 and 2018.

Also read: "I don't think that would have continued on without Kevin" - Draymond Green believes the Golden State Warriors would have struggled to dominate the NBA without Kevin Durant

The Cleveland Cavaliers were oozing confidence after beating the Golden State Warriors in 2016, despite trailing 3-1 during that series. The Cavs were also up 2-1 in 2015 before they lost the round 4-2.

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were arguably the best one-two punches in the league at the time, and a superteam like the Warriors featuring Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green was probably the only way Cleveland could've been stopped.

​