"These guys sold themselves to the devil" - Tristan Thompson reveals being stunned after 2017 Warriors signed Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant's 2016 move to the Golden State Warriors remains one of the most controversial moves in recent memory. The Warriors had captured an NBA title in 2015, and with Durant and the OKC Thunder blowing a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Western Conference finals to Golden State, KD's decision was highly scrutinized.
To this day, the former MVP still fields criticism about the decision. After winning two titles together (in 2017 and 2018), Durant and the Warriors parted ways in 2019, with the blame being placed on Draymond Green at first.
As Green and Durant have made clear all these years later, however, the way the Warriors' front office handled their infamous argument was an even bigger factor. During a recent interview, Green and Tristan Thompson sat down to discuss the Cavaliers' 3-1 comeback, as well as Durant's decision.
"Man, when you guys came back with Kevin Durant, I said these guys are out of control," Thompson said. "I said I was joking around. Like, man, these guys sold themselves to the devil. How the hell you guys pull this off? I said, how do these guys pull this off? You guys are 73 and 9, you lose in the finals and you get Kevin Durant. That's the gift you get?
"That's not a bad trade. You give up one championship to get two. We call that a deal. We call that a steal. ... So, that was actually a good trade that you guys did, so I appreciate that because I wanted my one ring. At least I got one."
You can see the discussion in the video below beginning at the 49-minute mark.
Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors' fallout
Given that Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors were able to capture two NBA championships together, their split was highly controversial. With video emerging of Green telling Durant that the team didn't need him to win, many blamed him for how things played out.
As the pair revealed during a sit-down interview years later, it wasn't necessarily the argument itself that led to the fallout.
Durant explained his side, saying:
"It wasn't the argument. It was the way that everybody – (coach) Steve Kerr – acted like it didn't happen. (General manager) Bob Myers tried to just discipline you (Green) and think that would put the mask over everything."
Green recalled coach Steve Kerr and GM Bob Myers both acting like the blow-up didn't happen. After the front office punished Green, he recalled telling them that the way they handled things was going to end poorly.
"'Y'all are about to f*** this up,'" Green said he told them. "I said, 'The only person that can make this right is me and K (Durant). And there is nothing that y'all can do, and y'all are going to f*** this up.' And in my opinion, they f***ed it up."
You can see their sit-down interview in its entirety below, with the conversation shifting to the blow-up around the 10-minute mark.