Championship or Bust for Kevin Durant?

The last time KD won a championship, the year was in 2018. In back-to-back years with the Golden State Warriors, KD had gone to the promised land more than he ever did with the OKC Thunder. Unfortunately for him, the journey would end even before the title defense ever started. In an early regular season game in late 2018, Draymond Green would let his scything tongue loose of Durant, calling him terms and stating "We don't need you. We won without you. Leave." And that set the ball rolling. Even though the team tried to put the issue aside and ultimately did make the NBA finals, Durant's injury in the conference finals would have to wait until Game 5, with the Warriors down 3-1. Hoping to pull off a comeback that had happened only once (against them in 2016), KD would return to the floor. Unfortunately for him, in an almost career-ending injury, Durant would tear his Achilles in the same game. The Warriors would lose the series 4-2 and miss out on their quest for a 3-peat.

When Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets, he joined a team that already had two All-Stars in Kyrie Irving and James Harden. The expectation was that Durant would lead the Nets to championship glory, something that the team has never achieved in its history. The Nets were seen as one of the favorites to win the championship in the 2020-2021 season, but injuries to key players derailed their postseason hopes. A conference semifinal with the Milwaukee Bucks would see Durant put the team on his back and try his best to lead them forward. A tense matchup with both teams fighting back and forth would lead to a 3-3 result, with Game 7 of the series taking place at Barclays Center. 

The 2021-2022 season was viewed as a make-or-break year for the Nets, with the team aiming to make a deep run in the postseason and potentially win a championship. With a healthy Durant, Irving, and Harden leading the way, the Nets had one of the most talented rosters in the league. If they didn't win a championship that season, it would be seen as a disappointment for the team and its fans. Championship or Bust for Durant? 

Unfortunately for them, the season never materialized. KD would go down with an injury early in the season, and Kyrie Irving refused to get his COVID-19 vaccine, a requirement to play in the league. Internal issues and this 'I me myself stand' would see James Harden force his way out of Brooklyn to Philly. KD would come back after the trade deadline to play with Irving (rules for the vaccine had been relaxed by then), but the season would fall flat with an early exit in the postseason, a 4-0 sweep at the hands of Boston.

The offseason would see KD request his way out of Brooklyn, with a list of trade destinations in mind. Unfortunately for him, the Minnesota Timberwolves trading for Rudy Gobert days earlier would put a damper on the rumors. The Wolves gave up 5 quality players and 5 first-round picks to the Utah Jazz, which got everyone thinking. If someone like Rudy Gobert demanded that draft equity, what would it take to trade for a 'once-in-a-generation scorer' in Kevin Durant? He would soon rescind his trade, but the start of the season was anything but smooth. Kyrie Irving would first be banned for 8 games for promoting an anti-semitic movie, and just when things were going well in Brooklyn with them 4th in the East at 32-20, Irving would demand a trade due to stalling on contract talks. A few days later, KD would be traded to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal sending quality players in Mikal Bridges and Cam Payne to the Nets along with multiple picks. 

At the time of this post, the Suns are 1-1 against the Clippers in the first round. With two aging stars on the roster, the city of Phoenix would definitely be hoping that KD can take them to the promised land where other greats could not. So, is it 'Championship or Bust for Kevin Durant'?

The answer is complicated. On the one hand, Durant has already won two championships with the Golden State Warriors, cementing his legacy as one of the best players in the game today. He's also won numerous individual awards, including two NBA Finals MVP awards and four scoring titles. However, Durant has always been driven to win championships. He famously joined the Warriors in 2016 to win championships, and his decision to sign with the Nets, and then force his way out was also driven by his desire to win another title. He's a highly competitive player who is always looking to improve and win at the highest level. In that sense, it's fair to say that winning a championship is essential to Durant. It's not necessarily "Championship or Bust" for him, as he's already achieved so much in his career, but winning another championship would certainly cement his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.