Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant is now an accomplished Finals MVP and NBA Champion, still hungry and looking to continue his domination with a more defensive tenacity than ever.
Sure it helps that he has a team that boasts a high powered team-oriented style of basketball with some of the best shooters and defenders in the league, but Durant plays his role in the scheme well.
Making the move from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Warriors certainly upset plenty of NBA fans, which caused backlash on social media and a few nicknames to boot.
Snake. Coward. Cupcake. It was those things and more that Durant had to wade through to get to the top, but he stayed focused and made it happen, sinking a game-winning three-pointer over the head of LeBron James.
Once we won, I'm expecting something to take the place of what I thought was empty. Now I know. It's cool to do, but the journey is better than the destination. So much happened that got me to this point that means way more to me than a championship. That was my revelation when we won. I had to tell myself it was cool to feel that way. Everything I did led me to where I am.
In the midst of winning, he had to let go of the former team and all that came with it. The Thunder had to move forward as well, and look at restructuring for a completely new era.
The team that drafted him where he practically immortalized the number 35 has now given the number to PJ Dozier, a rookie on a two-way contract.
Dozier states that he wanted the number not to disrespect Durant but in remembrance of his late cousin and former Boston Celtic Reggie Lewis, who died on the court during a game due to heart complications.
Durant himself had to come to grips with the team moving on, and giving his number to someone else, and it didn't matter what he did in the prior years.
There were some hard feelings initially and some thoughts laced in profanity towards the organization until he later gained perspective on reality.
I didn't have that perspective at first. I didn't have it when I went back to OKC. I was like, ‘F–k all of them.' I didn't have it when they gave my number away. I was, ‘F–k all of them.' My best friend works for the team, I told him, ‘F–k all y'all. That's f–ked up.' Then I had to get out of my head, tell myself, ‘It's not that serious, it is what it is.' I understand it's not my number anymore, they can do whatever they want with it, but you hand that number to a two-way player, you've got to be, like, ‘Nah, we've got too many good memories with this number, man.' But at some point, that thing's going to be in the rafters anyway; it's all good.
The sharp-shooting forward continues:
I did something they didn't like. They did something I didn't like. S–t happens. If I was on my death bed, I guarantee you Sam Presti and Russell Westbrook would come check on me. So I'm going to look at it that way rather than the other way.
In his own way, Durant is coming to a peace within himself and understanding his own choice to move on really was best for himself even more now than when he first did.
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