In a recent interview with The Arizona Republic, two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant expressed his frustration with being left out of the conversation for the title of Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in basketball.
Durant, widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation, has won two NBA championships, and two NBA Finals MVP awards. However, he isn’t considered to be on a GOAT level, and finds himself overshadowed by other greats such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant in the GOAT debate.
Durant questioned his exclusion from the conversation, stating,
“Because I went to the Warriors. Why shouldn’t I be in that? That’s the question you should ask. Why not? What haven’t I done?”
Durant’s comments have sparked a debate among NBA fans and analysts. While very few agree with Durant that he deserves to be in the GOAT conversation, most fans believe that his lack of sustained dominance and his move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 diminish his legacy.
Those who support Durant’s claim cite his incredible scoring ability, his versatility on the court, and his winning mentality. They argue that he has the talent and the work ethic to be considered one of the greatest players ever.
On the other hand, the vast majority, who question Durant’s GOAT status, point to his lack of sustained success as a leader. They argue that he has only won championships when he has played alongside other superstars, such as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and himself. They also criticize his decision to join the Warriors in 2016, which they view as taking the easy way out.
