The NBA's biggest soap opera this season starts and ends with arguably the biggest free-agent prize of 2019: Kevin Durant. While his move to the New York Knicks has been all but confirmed, Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher didn't hesitate to punch it home with a sense of finality, saying it's a “done” deal during a recent “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” appearance:
“From everything I've heard, it's done,” said Bucher, taking a minute to draw a parallel to Cowherd's own situation when first leaving ESPN. “Being there, I can tell you that Kevin Durant hasn't been fully embraced by the Warriors' faithful. I think that even from a national perspective, he [hasn't] been given the just due that you would expect for a guy who has been the NBA Finals MVP of their last two championships.
“It's still Steph's team. It's still Steph, Klay, Draymond … KD, thanks for coming along and helping us win these last two.”
"From everything I've heard, it's done. Yes, he's leaving… If he so much as gets [the Knicks] into the Conference Finals, he will be beloved there like he never has been at Golden State after 2 Championships."@RicBucher on Kevin Durant's free agency pic.twitter.com/eCHgKQxKTF
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) April 3, 2019
Bucher, who recently covered the Warriors for one season, went on to say Durant's mindset has shifted to where he could possibly go to be beloved and appreciated:
“If he so much as gets [the Knicks] into the conference finals, for what they have not done over the last multiple decades, he will be beloved there like he never has been at Golden State after winning two championships.”
Bucher is right to a degree. As much as there is great support for Durant in Golden State, he has always come second to Curry, who helped change the exoskeleton of the franchise upon being drafted in 2009.
The deep-rooted history of surging through the struggle of being the laughingstock of the NBA, persevering through management and ownership changes, overcoming career-threatening injuries and endearing himself to a fan base over a decade has earned Curry the title of face of the franchise. Durant will never get that title in Golden State, despite his sizable contributions.
The Knicks do come with a bevy of organizational questions, with Bucher specifically pointing out owner James Dolan. But those do become easier to address if Durant can reel in another superstar to play alongside him in The Big Apple.
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