Kevin Durant shocked the world by choosing to sign with the Golden State Warriors, and now it’s hard to see that they won’t be NBA champions again in 2017. Here’s why.
The basketball world is in shock right now. Even for all the positive Golden State Warriors fans who believed they’d sign Kevin Durant, his decision to do so must still be a shock. But that’s what the NBA and everyone who follows it will have to accept right now. “If you can’t beat them, join them”. Whether you let that tarnish your opinion of Durant or you can accept that he was within his right to choose any of the teams in the running for him, he’s joining the Warriors regardless.
Yes, the first 73-9 team in history. The 2015 NBA champions. The team with the two-time, reigning MVP Stephen Curry.
The best shooting team in NBA history just added one of the best scorers in NBA history, and the thought of how formidable their starting lineup (changes at center and on the bench aside for now) just became is almost unthinkable.
After failing to defeat them in the playoffs, the best free agent just joined the best team he possibly could. If things played out slightly differently in the final minute of Game 7 of the Finals, such as Kyrie Irving missing that three-pointer over Curry, the Warriors could easily be reigning champions right now.
And they still added another superstar.
Even if you’re a Warriors fan, it’s startling to think that this isn’t just what some kid pulled off on 2K. It’s reality, no matter how strange and too-good (or bad)-to-be-true it feels.
Yes, the Warriors blew a 3-1 series lead in the Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. There’s no doubt that part of their pitch to Durant involved him being the final piece to ensure they wouldn’t suffer such a defeat again. Besides that, they also sold him on their fluid, selfless style of play, the culture in Golden State, and the chance to build a dynasty.
And after bringing in Durant, is there any way to doubt what they can achieve?
Of course, Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, maybe Andre Iguodala, and possibly some other pieces will need to go in order to create cap space for Durant. Yet, while those two both bring a lot to the team, moving them isn’t something you hesitate about if you have the chance to add a transcendent talent like Kevin Durant.
So, let’s consider why the Warriors are such heavy favorites to be NBA champions again in 2017.
Next: 5. Klay Thompson will have more space