The new NBA season is officially underway, but don’t think for a second that people are finally done talking about last June’s NBA Finals won by the Golden State Warriors.
That series had plenty of unforgettable moments despite the Warriors making quick work of the Cleveland Cavaliers in just five games. Among them was the dagger 3-pointer Kevin Durant made late in Game 3 of that series, which helped the Warriors get the lead, put the win in the bag, and take a 3-0 series lead. And according to Chris Haynes of ESPN, it was one of the most difficult moves to pull off for Durant.
“That shot was always one of the toughest shots for me, especially from that angle,” he told ESPN. “I struggled with it. Your feet have to be placed a certain way, you have to be locked in. I would spend countless hours in the gym working on that shot to precision. When you truly love something, you want to be better at it. That's a shot I'm comfortable with now.”
Kevin Durant is arguably the most skilled offensive player in the NBA today, and we’re pretty sure that he’s made harder shots than that before. But the gravity of the situation plus the pressure on his shoulders to win a title after joining an already loaded Warriors team demands that shot to be viewed from a different plane.
It’s more than just about the mechanics. Knocking that jumper down required nerves of steel that, fortunately for the Warriors, Durant had in him.
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