Kevin Durant shocked the world when he decided to join the Golden State Warriors back in 2016. The decision for the move was highly controversial as it received equal amounts of criticism and applause. Some people criticized Durant of joining a super team which was already very much capable of winning the NBA championship, while others welcomed him and were excited to see the Warriors dominate the league with KD.
It turned out to be exactly as the fans predicted, the Golden State Warriors in the three years with Kevin Durant were an unstoppable force which ripped through every team it faced. With likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant, there was no team in the NBA which could complete with the Warriors. Now remembering those days of dominance, it would come as a surprise to know that NFL GOAT Tom Brady had a substantial influence on KD’s decision to join the Warriors.
Brady’s subtle hand in shaping Kevin Durant’s Warriors destiny
Durant’s business partner Rich Kleiman was invited to a podcast where he recalled the time when KD was a free agent and was thinking of joining a new team. He recalled the whole incident of Kevin and Brady taking a walk together. He said that Brady advised Kevin to look for the best team, the best organization, the best chance to win. Kevin interpreted that as the Golden State Warriors and decided to join them.
Golden State Warriors were one of the best team at that moment. There was no more a complete team than the Warriors when Durant decided to join them. And this fired up some backlash from fans and analysts of the sport. Even popular sports analyst like Charles Barkley criticized Kevin Durant’s decision and accused him of trying to win easy NBA championships.
How long was Durant on the Warriors?
Kevin Durant was with the Golden State Warriors for a total of 3 years from 2016 to 2019. During that time KD won two rings and was named the NBA finals MVP twice. Despite of getting all the heat and criticism of taking the easy route and joining a superteam, Durant proved his worth and became a key player for the Warriors during his stay. He helped the Dubs gather 2 championships under their name and establish themselves as one of the most dominant teams in the NBA.
Kevin Durant decided to end his journey with the Warriors in 2019 and moved to the Brooklyn Nets. This also received criticism as the fans believed that he was leaving a team which still could win a few more rings with his help. However, upon being asked of his reason for departure, KD said that he wanted to lead a team as he felt it wouldn’t be possible while staying with the Dubs. That is understandable as the 2016-19 Golden State Warriors were loaded with big names and there were bound to be ego clashes if one player tried to lead them all.
What do you think of Tom Brady’s subtle role in influencing Kevin Durant’s decision? Do you think KD will ever return to the Warriors? We are eager to know your thoughts, so drop them in the comments and share with us.
