In most sports, the best playing alongside the best is cause
for celebration. In the NBA, it’s cause for consternation.
Barcelona is Barcelona
because it trots out Neymar, Suarez and Messi. The Capitals were the NHL’s best
team because it added T.J. Oshie to ridiculously loaded lineup and DC
went nuts. The 2007 Patriots went 16-0 because it paired Randy Moss with
Tom Brady. Every year, MLB teams work to sign as many stars as possible to put
together a loaded lineup.
The new narrative is that today’s top NBA players don’t want
to beat their rivals; they want to join them. It started when LeBron left a
crappy situation in Cleveland – seriously, look at the last
roster he had to play with – for a fresh start in Miami with Wade and Bosh.
I always thought the goal of playing sports was to win. LeBron’s
best chance to win a title was in Miami, not Cleveland. As Kevin Durant looks
over his options for next season and beyond, it is clear as blue sky that
Golden State is his best opportunity to win a title.
Speaking as a fan, the most exciting destination for Durant
is Golden State. Sure, it’d be fun to see him try to revive the Knicks or the
Lakers. It’d be equally interesting to see him in Boston, playing for Brad
Stevens.
But Durant on the Warriors would be transcendent. The same
way soccer fans lose their mind during a Neymar, Messi, Suarez fast break, how
would basketball fans react to seeing Durant, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry
setting up around the 3-point line. How would you guard them? How could you
guard them?
In keeping with the soccer theme, Durant’s move to Golden
State would be very similar to Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid. Ronaldo is
Real’s Steph Curry as the undisputed star. Bale is the man who would be the top
guy on 99% of the other clubs in the world, but plays second fiddle to Ronaldo.
Do you think Bale cares? Do you think Bale’s career will somehow be judged as
“less” because of his teammate?
It’s absurd because of course it’s not. Durant’s skills and
superstardom would not be diminished by a move to Golden State, only enhanced.
At the end of the day, all we do is count rings. Bill Walton is a two-time NBA
Champion – not a one-time champion as the star and one-time champion as a
supporting player for Larry Bird’s Celtics.
Let’s not forget that LeBron’s move to Miami that created
the Heatles
sent NBA ratings soaring to near-Jordan levels. Curry’s success has already
moved the needle for the Warriors. Could you even imagine the hysteria and
hoopla that would surround the team if Durant was factored in?
The NBA, probably more than any other sport, thrives on super
teams. The 1980s and 1990s were defined by them. The Celtics, Lakers, Rockets
and Bulls dominated for stretches with teams that featured multiple Hall of Famers. I don’t remember any complaints in 1997
that Scottie Pippen should try to beat Jordan instead of winning with him.
They don’t make documentaries about great teams. They make
documentaries about once-in-a-lifetime teams. This year’s version of Golden
State is just about there. Next year’s version with Kevin Durant would become
the absolute biggest
story in sports.
Kevin Durant, I know you’re not
coming to DC. So I beg of you, please go to Golden State. I want to see how
good you can be. I want to see how good Curry can be. I want to see the best
play with the best.
Follow me on Twitter
Comments
Post a Comment