The recent spat between Kevin Durant and Charles Barkley has stirred up quite the conversation on the internet. The accusation from Barkley that KD is simply a “bus rider” on championship teams caused quite the response from the Nets star. While Durant is an undeniable talent, his tenure in Golden State remains controversial. If he is unable to win any NBA titles outside of his time with the Warriors, this will likely be looked at as a blemish on his resume.
Kevin Durant is far from the first player to chase a ring, and this does not change his status as one of the best basketball players to play the game. However, the concept of ring chasing remains a hot topic, and the negative perception around it is warranted at times.
With the 2022 NBA Playoffs in full swing, here is a look at five guys who could be considered “bus riders” in recent years. These players all still deserve a ton of credit for their career production, but they still find a spot on this list for not truly being the “bus driver.”
ClutchPoints' 2021-22 Top 5 NBA ‘Bus Rider' List
There was a time when Dwight Howard was an absolute force in the NBA. The eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year was known for his highlight-reel dunks and blocks. Howard led the NBA in rebounding for five seasons. He also averaged over 20 points per game in four different seasons.
However, this on-court production did not translate into championship success. The sole ring that Dwight Howard is able to wear is from his 2020 championship with the Lakers. Howard started in seven of the team's 18 postseason games that year. He averaged 5.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 fouls during his 15.7 minutes per game.
Dwight Howard deserves a ton of credit for being able to handle the transition from star to role player. The former star kept his ego in check and reinvented himself as a successful role player late in his career. However, he does not deserve a ton of credit for helping to push the Lakers to the championship. As great as Howard was from a personality perspective on the team, his tendency to foul and poor decision-making made him unplayable at times in the playoffs. He was a worthy Bus Rider who accomplished his goal of collecting a ring before his career was over.
4. Kevin Love
Before being traded to the Cavaliers, Kevin Love had a career record of 153-323 during his time in Minnesota. He never made the playoffs with the Timberwolves despite being named an All-Star three times. While it is impossible to blame a team's struggles solely on one player, it is clear Love never would have been capable of serving a lead role on a title team.
Love still played a valuable role on the 2016 Cavs team that won the championship, but he was certainly behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in the pecking order. The 14-year veteran has remained with the Cavs since this time. Love has taken a noticeable step back and averaged just 22.5 minutes per game this season, though he can still play a bit and is an important veteran leader on a youthful Cavs squad.
3. Kyle Lowry
He may not have ring chased in the traditional sense, but Kyle Lowry would not have a championship to his name if Kawhi Leonard did not take the keys. The Villanova guard bounced around early on in his career before finding a home in Toronto. Lowry spent nine seasons in Toronto, with the franchise making the playoffs in seven of the nine years.
After failing to reach their championship goals for several years, the Raptors made a blockbuster trade ahead of the 2019 season. By shipping off DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poetl, and a first-round pick, the Raptors were able to add Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. The move proved to be successful, with a heroic playoff run from Leonard managing to secure the Raptors their first championship as a franchise. Lowry was still an effective player during this run, but the Raptors certainly would not have won the championship that year if it had not been for Leonard's impressive play.
2 YEARS AGO TODAY
Kawhi made one of the greatest shots in NBA Playoffs history! pic.twitter.com/lIjRQWgEE4— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 12, 2021
2. Kevin Durant
It would not be a proper list without including the guy who started the entire conversation. On one hand, Kevin Durant is arguably the most talented scorer to ever play basketball and is a surefire Hall of Famer. On the other, there is certainly weight to claim that he is incapable of driving the bus for a championship team.
The current Nets star has two NBA titles to his name due to his time with the Golden State Warriors. Durant had previously spent nine seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was unable to win a championship. In his final season with the Thunder, the franchise led Golden State 3-1 in the series before the Warriors made the comeback. After being knocked out of the playoffs by the 73-9 Warriors, Durant elected to join the squad.
The recent first-round sweep by the Celtics put another negative mark on Durant's legacy. There should be no doubt about the talent of the two-time Finals MVP, but Charles Barkley has a real point when saying Durant cannot drive a team to a championship as a lead guy, even with those two Finals MVPs. Many still want to credit Stephen Curry for being the true driver of those Warriors teams.
Anthony Davis was drafted with an immense amount of expectations. The No. 1 overall pick had one of the most impressive seasons in college during his year at Kentucky. The Brow was polished as a rim protector and teased exciting offensive potential. The talent he possessed did not translate to team success as the Pelicans franchise had a losing record in five of the seven seasons he spent with the franchise.
The Pelicans made the playoffs just twice during Davis' time with the organization. It became clear that Davis did not see a long-term future with New Orleans. This feeling became so strong that Davis rejected a contract extension and demanded a trade from the organization. While he had the right to search for a better situation, this also was evidence that Davis was incapable of serving as the primary driver for a team.
After sending Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and a great deal of draft picks to New Orleans, the Lakers were able to add AD. The big man proved to be a solid sidekick to LeBron James and LA was able to win a title during the 2020 season. Davis stepped up in some major moments and was a productive member of the team, but the Lakers would not have won the championship without LeBron James taking control.
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