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When the Golden State Warriors acquired Kevin Durant through free agency last summer, it immediately thrust a high level of expectations onto the franchise.
However, there was still some question about whether Durant could mesh well with the Warriors. This drew no concern from head coach Steve Kerr, who thought it would all work out from the get-go, according to Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet.
'There was no question in my mind that this was going to work' — Kerr on adding KD.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) June 13, 2017
There were a few minor bumps along the way with Durant adjusting to finding his spots on the floor alongside his new teammates, but as the season wore on the fluidity of the offense came along as well. It was only a matter before the 28-year-old began to hit stride and put together his most efficient scoring season averaging 25.1 points on a career-high 53.7 percent from the field.
Durant only picked that up a notch in the playoffs leaving his best for the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers leading the way averaging 35.2 points on 55.6 percent shooting from the field and 47.4 percent from beyond the arc with 8.4 rebounds. All of this helped him earn the NBA Finals MVP award on the way to his first NBA championship.
That said, there is much under-appreciation for how willing Durant was to adjust to the playing style and culture of the Warriors that in turn allowed him to mess seamlessly. He made the process much easier by playing with an open mind and adapting to the fast-paced offensive flow of the team.
More importantly, Durant's addition and play have opened up the Warriors' championship for the next several years if their core group remains intact.
