The Golden State Warriors have done the unthinkable: sweeping through the Western Conference Finals while Kevin Durant, arguably the best player in the NBA, is sidelined with a calf strain suffered against the Houston Rockets in the second round.
Although sidelined from the court, Durant has not stayed on the bench on social media as pundits question his role with the dynastic Warriors, who won an NBA title before Durant arrived in the Bay Area and two more after acquiring the superstar.
Here’s Durant’s response to the notion his legacy has been lessened after Golden State’s resounding sweep of a playoff series without him:
Durant has a history of clapping back on Twitter and Instagram, to well-known individuals and no-names alike. One such no-name suggested Durant calm down, and the two-time NBA Finals MVP responded this way:
The Warriors’ acquisition of Durant in 2016 was … unusual.
The club won a league-record 73 games before his arrival, though the Warriors lost the NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers that season. To add a player of Durant’s caliber after such a campaign was astonishing.
Now that Durant is sidelined, the situation has become unusual yet again.
How can a team lose Durant and still sweep the conference finals? It’s because the Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, are champions without him. But they’re also champs with him — multiple-time champs at that.
As much attention as the Warriors’ original three are garnering right now, they’ll most assuredly need Durant before this postseason is over. They’ve even said so themselves. Durant simply needs to get back on the floor to remind the world of his greatness. His legacy with the Warriors is that of a champion, and nothing can change that — not even a situation as unusual as he’s in now.
