Kevin Durant had joined the Golden State Warriors after the 2016 NBA Finals and stopped LeBron James from winning further in Cleveland.
Kevin Durant’s move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 is considered the weakest move by a superstar in the history of the NBA. Prior to his move to the Warriors, Durant and OKC blew away a 3-1 lead over the Warriors in the WCF. As a result, Durant joining the team that knocked him out wasn’t taken well by the people worldwide.
One person who has been happy over the years for KD joining the Warriors is Skip Bayless. The famous FOX Sports Analyst has been a lifelong fan of Kevin Durant. Moreover, he has been a lifelong critic of LeBron James.
He recently admitted on the Skip Bayless Show that Durant joining the Warriors saved him from LeBron. He certainly believes that LeBron would have won done a three-peat with the Cavs if KD had not joined the Warriors, and that would have put them on the same rings as Michael Jordan now.
Skip Bayless said, “Kevin Durant saves Steph’s legacy, and, frankly, he saved me from LeBron James and his billions of blind witnesses out there, because KD himself, really by himself, he wrecked LeBron’s legacy,”
“I shudder at the thought of LeBron having six rings right now”- Skip Bayless on how Kevin Durant saved him from LeBron James
Skip Bayless further continued to talk about how KD helped him to root for Jordan’s case for the GOAT of the sport. He said, “If he hadn’t said yes to Golden State, to Steph and Draymond (Green), isn’t it highly possible that LeBron wins two more championships in 2017 and ’18, because I think it’s a done deal? And I think the Warriors knew it was a done deal.“
Skip admitted that LeBron would certainly have won two more championships with the Cavaliers. Adding those two with the one he won with the Lakers in 2020, would have tied him at 6 championships with Jordan. That certainly would have enhanced LeBron’s case for the GOAT.
Skip further said, “I shudder at the thought of LeBron having six rings right now. So, I publicly need to thank Kevin Durant for what he did. After 2018, that’s when I started calling Kevin Durant the best player on the planet.”
Would LeBron James have done a three-peat with the Cavs, if KD didn’t join the Warriors?
LeBron James showed the world in 2016 during the NBA finals, that he and his team could take down any team in the NBA. They were 1-3 down in the series against the Warriors, but they still managed to overcome that and won the series.
LeBron knew that he along with Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love will be able to defeat the Warriors every single year. Due to this fact only, the Warriors recruited Kevin Durant. The Warriors also knew that they couldn’t have defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers without KD.
Certainly, the Cavs led by LeBron James would have three-peated, as they were a very great team who had a great big three along with solid role players. KD’s move to the Warriors changed the entire landscape of the NBA.
Even during the finals in 2015, where the Cavs were without Kyrie and Kevin Love who were out due to injuries, LeBron James was still able to dominate the Warriors. It was crystal clear visible to everyone that the Warriors couldn’t beat the Cavs if they were healthy.
By adding KD to their great team, the Warriors were absolutely invincible. No team could have defeated them when they were healthy. The Raptors won the 2019 championship only because KD was hurt, and so was Klay Thompson. Otherwise, the Warriors would have done a three-peat.
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