How do we feel about Kevin Durant's Jersey Comments?

[wikkid1]

I've always respected his skills and watched him grow in the DC area and on to Texas.  No question the man is an amazing bball player.  However, he appears to be a pompous ass.  Like we don't know he is a great player.  Sad...

Used to love KD when he was here in Seattle and even with OKC (rooted for him, not Klay Bennett or the rest of the team) but he’s become egotistical beyond likability.  Screw him.

[Neurotic Guy]

Not sure how many people have seen this, but it's kind of an interesting snippet - loathe as I am to link to The Ringer:
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/3/31/23003635/kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving

“Every one of these places I played is my home,” he says. “I can imagine me when I’m done, and I don’t think any one of these franchises would be like, ‘No, K, what you did here is not a part of our history.’ I’m going to be a Hall of Famer when I’m done, one of the greatest to ever play. If you don’t want me to be a part of your program when I’m done playing, then that’s personal.

“OKC has to retire my jersey,” he continues. “It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. The same with Golden State. I’m still doing what I’m doing here in Brooklyn, but if I continue on what I’m doing four or five years, then I’ll feel the same way about this program. I better have a home. Because I feel like I am basketball. I breathe it. This is my DNA. I put in the time and respect and love for each one of these programs on and off the floor to get that type of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s personal.”

So what do we think?

I don't know Kevin Durant as a person and I don't think any single blurb out of his mouth tells us everything about the guy.  NBA is different than it used to be.  Team sports is different.  It's pretty close to an expectation that a great player won't play his whole prime with one organization, and likely will play for more than 2 teams.  In this world players are noted for their time, whatever that may be, at each stop.  It's why KG and RA will get their numbers retired in Boston.  He's probably correct that he should/will get his number retired in multiple places and he's probably correct that he works his butt off to be the best he can be at each stop along the way.

Most of the time when I see a statement written and then see it on video with the person's own emphasis, inflections, non-verbal language, the meaning changes... at least somewhat.  Maybe KD is a self-centered egotistical jerk.  As a comparison, though, if you read Marcus Smart's DPOY comments, they don't come across much different than KDs comments. 

[csfansince60s]

Durant comes across in those statements as a pretentious narcissistic little twerp.

Mercenaries of the highest order (KD, Bron Bron, Cryie, Harden) could/should potentially have their numbers retired by the league (never heard of that), but not by most of the teams they play for.

PP, Kobie, Duncan, KG, Wade (I don't like him, but cHeat for life) all deserve respect for their loyalty and their contributions to THEIR franchises. The aforementioned in the paragraph before, not so much. 

[gouki88]

There should basically be no hesitation about him getting his number retired in OKC. MVP, multiple scoring titles, led them to the Finals, so on and so forth.

He shouldn't for Golden State. Curry, Draymond and Klay should, but not Durant.

Brooklyn, as he says, can't really be discussed for a few years. He'd need to start actually playing more than half a season though.

[RJD1974]

There should basically be no hesitation about him getting his number retired in OKC. MVP, multiple scoring titles, led them to the Finals, so on and so forth.

He shouldn't for Golden State. Curry, Draymond and Klay should, but not Durant.

Brooklyn, as he says, can't really be discussed for a few years. He'd need to start actually playing more than half a season though.

I get the sentiment, Gouk, and he did only play three seasons there.

However...

Two championships and two finals MVPs in those three seasons are pretty huge.

I'd understand if they did.

[Moranis]

Of course he will be in the rafters in OKC.  He is basically on every leaderboard in the franchise's history and if you don't count the Sonics, it is basically him or Westbrook leading in every category.  Even counting the entire Sonics history, he is 3rd in points, 4th in blocks, 5th in rebounds, 7th in assists, and 8th in steals.  There is no way he shouldn't be in the rafters in OKC. 

Durant will not, and should not, be in the rafters in Golden State.  Came into the greatest team ever as a hired gun mercenary and then left after 3 seasons.  He has much less a case than James does in Miami (James stayed 4 years and Miami wasn't any good when he went there) and I'm not sure James ends up in the rafters in Miami. 

As an aside, if James does end up being retired in Miami, then I do think he will have 3 as I think he stays long enough in LA for them to retire his number (he has a title, finals mvp, may end up with the scoring title, and will break the all time scoring mark there).

[Phantom255x]

I loved his responses to Nick Wright haha 

On one hand, the guy is pretty good at making comebacks against clowns on Twitter, but at the same time it's obvious KD is really sensitive about what social media says about him and these jersey comments are no different. I mean seriously, how many guys out there just say stuff like this?? Only someone who is insecure would. Did Dirk say this or demand a jersey retirement? What about Duncan?

As Moranis said^, I definitely don't think KD should be in the rafters in Golden State, and even Lebron may or may not make the rafters in Miami. Neither guy stayed with those teams for more than 4 years either and KD legit joined a team that had won it all before and won 73-games just the season prior.

And lets not forget, it's legit known worldwide KD uses burners and has been caught multiple times doing so.

[Roy H.]

Of course he will be in the rafters in OKC.  He is basically on every leaderboard in the franchise's history and if you don't count the Sonics, it is basically him or Westbrook leading in every category.  Even counting the entire Sonics history, he is 3rd in points, 4th in blocks, 5th in rebounds, 7th in assists, and 8th in steals.  There is no way he shouldn't be in the rafters in OKC. 

Durant will not, and should not, be in the rafters in Golden State.  Came into the greatest team ever as a hired gun mercenary and then left after 3 seasons.  He has much less a case than James does in Miami (James stayed 4 years and Miami wasn't any good when he went there) and I'm not sure James ends up in the rafters in Miami. 

As an aside, if James does end up being retired in Miami, then I do think he will have 3 as I think he stays long enough in LA for them to retire his number (he has a title, finals mvp, may end up with the scoring title, and will break the all time scoring mark there).

Regarding James, I think it’s up in the air with the Lakers.  He won a title, yes.  He’s also seen the Lakers finish 7th, 10th and 11th in the West.  Compared to Lakers history, it hasn’t been that impressive of a run.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Of course he will be in the rafters in OKC.  He is basically on every leaderboard in the franchise's history and if you don't count the Sonics, it is basically him or Westbrook leading in every category.  Even counting the entire Sonics history, he is 3rd in points, 4th in blocks, 5th in rebounds, 7th in assists, and 8th in steals.  There is no way he shouldn't be in the rafters in OKC. 

Durant will not, and should not, be in the rafters in Golden State.  Came into the greatest team ever as a hired gun mercenary and then left after 3 seasons.  He has much less a case than James does in Miami (James stayed 4 years and Miami wasn't any good when he went there) and I'm not sure James ends up in the rafters in Miami. 

As an aside, if James does end up being retired in Miami, then I do think he will have 3 as I think he stays long enough in LA for them to retire his number (he has a title, finals mvp, may end up with the scoring title, and will break the all time scoring mark there).

Regarding James, I think it’s up in the air with the Lakers.  He won a title, yes.  He’s also seen the Lakers finish 7th, 10th and 11th in the West.  Compared to Lakers history, it hasn’t been that impressive of a run.

You're talking about the team that took Minnesota's titles and claimed them as their own

[Phantom255x]

Of course he will be in the rafters in OKC.  He is basically on every leaderboard in the franchise's history and if you don't count the Sonics, it is basically him or Westbrook leading in every category.  Even counting the entire Sonics history, he is 3rd in points, 4th in blocks, 5th in rebounds, 7th in assists, and 8th in steals.  There is no way he shouldn't be in the rafters in OKC. 

Durant will not, and should not, be in the rafters in Golden State.  Came into the greatest team ever as a hired gun mercenary and then left after 3 seasons.  He has much less a case than James does in Miami (James stayed 4 years and Miami wasn't any good when he went there) and I'm not sure James ends up in the rafters in Miami. 

As an aside, if James does end up being retired in Miami, then I do think he will have 3 as I think he stays long enough in LA for them to retire his number (he has a title, finals mvp, may end up with the scoring title, and will break the all time scoring mark there).

Regarding James, I think it’s up in the air with the Lakers.  He won a title, yes.  He’s also seen the Lakers finish 7th, 10th and 11th in the West.  Compared to Lakers history, it hasn’t been that impressive of a run.

Yeah I'll have to look it up, but I think Shaq or someone (a Lakers legend) actually implied the same thing. Plus the Lakers won the title in the Bubble Year which people still hold against them a bit (just like the Dodgers in the MLB or even Tampa in the NHL). Not saying that's fair as I think those seasons count, but circumstances were very different at those times and the seasons definitely weren't the same.

[Moranis]

Of course he will be in the rafters in OKC.  He is basically on every leaderboard in the franchise's history and if you don't count the Sonics, it is basically him or Westbrook leading in every category.  Even counting the entire Sonics history, he is 3rd in points, 4th in blocks, 5th in rebounds, 7th in assists, and 8th in steals.  There is no way he shouldn't be in the rafters in OKC. 

Durant will not, and should not, be in the rafters in Golden State.  Came into the greatest team ever as a hired gun mercenary and then left after 3 seasons.  He has much less a case than James does in Miami (James stayed 4 years and Miami wasn't any good when he went there) and I'm not sure James ends up in the rafters in Miami. 

As an aside, if James does end up being retired in Miami, then I do think he will have 3 as I think he stays long enough in LA for them to retire his number (he has a title, finals mvp, may end up with the scoring title, and will break the all time scoring mark there).

Regarding James, I think it’s up in the air with the Lakers.  He won a title, yes.  He’s also seen the Lakers finish 7th, 10th and 11th in the West.  Compared to Lakers history, it hasn’t been that impressive of a run.

he has a couple more years left though and he is actually getting close to cracking the top 10 on their leaderboards in key categories like points. He is 2nd in ppg and apg so his per game numbers are there.  A couple of more years and I think he may get up there.  Right now, no, 2 to 3 more years then probably yes.

[Big333223]

Of course he will be in the rafters in OKC.  He is basically on every leaderboard in the franchise's history and if you don't count the Sonics, it is basically him or Westbrook leading in every category.  Even counting the entire Sonics history, he is 3rd in points, 4th in blocks, 5th in rebounds, 7th in assists, and 8th in steals.  There is no way he shouldn't be in the rafters in OKC. 

Durant will not, and should not, be in the rafters in Golden State.  Came into the greatest team ever as a hired gun mercenary and then left after 3 seasons.  He has much less a case than James does in Miami (James stayed 4 years and Miami wasn't any good when he went there) and I'm not sure James ends up in the rafters in Miami. 

As an aside, if James does end up being retired in Miami, then I do think he will have 3 as I think he stays long enough in LA for them to retire his number (he has a title, finals mvp, may end up with the scoring title, and will break the all time scoring mark there).

Regarding James, I think it’s up in the air with the Lakers.  He won a title, yes.  He’s also seen the Lakers finish 7th, 10th and 11th in the West.  Compared to Lakers history, it hasn’t been that impressive of a run.

Yeah I'll have to look it up, but I think Shaq or someone (a Lakers legend) actually implied the same thing. Plus the Lakers won the title in the Bubble Year which people still hold against them a bit (just like the Dodgers in the MLB or even Tampa in the NHL). Not saying that's fair as I think those seasons count, but circumstances were very different at those times and the seasons definitely weren't the same.

Not that I'm plugged in to any Laker circles but from what I gather, Laker fans hate this year's team. Like, really hate them. James will be 38 next season and their path to getting better is a big question mark. He might wind up spending 6 years in LA with 1 title, 1 first round exit, and 4 missed playoffs and lead a couple of the least liked teams by Laker fans.

[ozgod]

So first he says this:

“How people look at me, I can’t control. I know when I walk down the street, people may be looking at me like I’m a superhero,” he says. “But I look at it as it’s just like, ‘Yo, I’m just a normal person trying to blend in.’ I keep that approach and it’s just better for me to operate in that space.”

Then he says this:

“Every one of these places I played is my home,” he says. “I can imagine me when I’m done, and I don’t think any one of these franchises would be like, ‘No, K, what you did here is not a part of our history.’ I’m going to be a Hall of Famer when I’m done, one of the greatest to ever play. If you don’t want me to be a part of your program when I’m done playing, then that’s personal.

Kind of a split personality I guess. 

That said, he's annoying to listen to because he's right...he's definitely one of the greatest. I think he has a good case for OKC to retire his jersey, the only black mark would be the failure to deliver a championship. But in the context of who else has had their jersey retired from that team, I think he's right up there. GS is a bit trickier. He definitely was a driving force in helping deliver those two championships to them. But the team he joined might have won those two championships without him anyway. I could go each way on that.

Brooklyn...too early. He hasn't done anything in Brooklyn and has been injured half the time.