Technically, Kevin Durant Will Have Killed the NBA's Golden Goose, Not LeBron
- Fred
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 19
Kevin Durant really does not want to play for the Phoenix Suns anymore.
But he really, really does not want to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves either. Suns Management better not trade him there....
Why do you care about the whims of Kevin Durant?
Good question.
Back in the 1990's, Michael Jordan almost single-handedly drove the NBA to become the second-most popular sport in America.
You can argue semantics with me, but the world's best players elevated the conversation about the NBA in relation to BASKETBALL. The players marketed the game.
Once LeBron James got into the league, he took the sport to new heights by driving both basketball AND drama. I believe more casual fans were aware of "The Decision," than were aware of LeBron appearing in 8 straight NBA Finals.
But Father Time is undefeated and James is now past 40. Every time you think LeBron is going to pass the baton, he simply holds onto it and takes another lap.
Now it is different though. LeBron isn't about winning or drama, he's satisfied with playing with the Lakers and introducing his sons to the league. The drama isn't totally gone, earlier today he made news lamenting the "Ring Culture" in sports. And, yesterday, he was concerned about the stability of his knee, but, for the most part, the drama has ebbed away.
Drama used to drive the NBA offseason like the Draft drives the NFL offseason.
Now the focus has shifted back to basketball. 2 teams, the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, have made it to the Finals the old fashioned way, focusing on team basketball. Few casual fans can name more than one or two star players on either team. As Game 6 approaches this evening, no one is talking about Kevin Durant.
Why? Kevin Durant's trade demands have reached a near farcical level. Usually that would drive the conversation during Finals week. Not this year.
Just to remind our casual fans:
Durant started his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite playing with future Hall-of-Famers Russell Westbrook and James Hardin, Durant left the Thunder.
Durant moved on to the Golden State Warriors and won multiple championships with future Hall-of-Famers Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry. Eventually Durant tired of winning with that group and wanted to win with a different group.
Durant moved on to the Brooklyn Nets and won squat. Despite playing with future Hall-of-Famers James Hardin and Kyrie Irving, that team imploded. In Durant's defense, the implosion was mostly due to Irving and Ben Simmons.
Durant then moved to the Phoenix Suns. They were a nice story last year, an ugly story this year. Despite having a solid young core, the closest thing to a Hall-of-Famer on the roster is Devon Booker, and that's not a slam dunk.
This week, Kevin Durant quietly leaked his preferred trade destinations:
Miami Heat
San Antonio Spurs
Houston Rockets
After losing to the Cavs, the Miami Heat are ready to scrape the team down to its floor and re-build around Durant. Why would Durant want that? I think he would like to make $50+ million a year to play in the city of Miami.
The Spurs are an intriguing team from a basketball perspective, but why would they want the notoriously fickle Durant? He could put the team over the top, or, more likely, stunt the growth of the team's young core and clash with Chris Paul. How many Championships did Durant and Paul win together in the brief stay together in Phoenix? Kevin Durant at 26? ABSOLUTELY that would work! Durant at 36? Ahhhhh......
The Rockets are also an interesting team with a young core. But again, I understand why Durant would want to go there, I don't understand why the Rockets would want Durant (and his contract) at his age.
The Minnesota Timberwolves want Durant, but he doesn't want to play in the city of Minneapolis. Basketball-wise, it's a good fit. What is Durant's real motivation at 36? Comfort or winning.
The question is: Can the NBA thrive by simply marketing basketball? The league is at a crossroads if it can't sell drama, like Durant's, anymore.
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