WEBVTT - Episode 8 - Three in Four Years 0:00:03.789 --> 0:00:06.709 Dubb Dynasty as a production of iHeartMedia and the NBA. 0:00:08.829 --> 0:00:11.828 With the second pick in the two thousand and seven 0:00:11.949 --> 0:00:19.069 NBA Draft, the Seattle SuperSonics select Kevin Durant from the 0:00:19.149 --> 0:00:20.469 University of Texas. 0:00:22.949 --> 0:00:24.149 The realization of a dream. 0:00:24.189 --> 0:00:27.669 This young man from Switzerland, Maryland, who was still age eighteen, 0:00:27.869 --> 0:00:32.189 went to Texas for one year, was the consensus National 0:00:32.229 --> 0:00:34.869 player of the year. No freshman ever has been the 0:00:34.909 --> 0:00:36.989 consensus National player. 0:00:36.709 --> 0:00:37.069 Of the year. 0:00:43.429 --> 0:00:45.629 Then it comes to Durant, He's gonna try to win it, 0:00:48.629 --> 0:00:51.149 Durand that's a three pointer. 0:00:51.029 --> 0:00:53.069 Of the Sonics with the ball game. 0:00:54.629 --> 0:00:57.829 Rives, lay up talk by Durant, army back to the. 0:00:57.869 --> 0:00:59.869 Land and for the laft out of Bowl. 0:01:02.229 --> 0:01:05.988 Splosh, I was just puffed away Tilson and Zappalochaipu. Durant 0:01:06.109 --> 0:01:10.949 to labasket, unders and fires it down to Lavast. 0:01:11.908 --> 0:01:15.869 What a long drive durt to drive. 0:01:18.469 --> 0:01:20.309 Dan what before. 0:01:22.988 --> 0:01:23.308 Today? 0:01:23.548 --> 0:01:28.828 Seven times? 0:01:30.708 --> 0:01:33.548 Those were some highlights of Kevin Durant's time in the 0:01:33.669 --> 0:01:39.869 NBA before he won an NBA championship. From getting drafted 0:01:39.869 --> 0:01:43.708 in two thousand and seven, to his debut season, which 0:01:43.788 --> 0:01:47.109 was the final one for the SuperSonics in Seattle, to 0:01:47.229 --> 0:01:51.269 his Finals appearance with the Thunder in twenty twelve to 0:01:51.349 --> 0:01:56.909 his MVP season in Oklahoma City in twenty fourteen. I'm 0:01:56.949 --> 0:02:02.469 Israel Gutierrez and this is dubbed dynasty. Almost from the 0:02:02.469 --> 0:02:05.588 moment he was drafted, Kevin Durant was projected to be 0:02:05.669 --> 0:02:08.829 one of the most gifted scorers in the league. It 0:02:08.869 --> 0:02:12.069 was thought he would challenge, if not surpassed, the league's 0:02:12.069 --> 0:02:15.509 other greats, whether it was an aging Kobe Bryant or 0:02:15.549 --> 0:02:18.509 a vibrant Lebron James in his prime. By the time 0:02:18.589 --> 0:02:19.548 Durant's career was. 0:02:19.469 --> 0:02:22.349 Done, is there a player out there that you're looking 0:02:22.349 --> 0:02:23.469 at that motivates you? 0:02:23.589 --> 0:02:23.788 Yeah? 0:02:23.869 --> 0:02:24.148 Who's that? 0:02:24.469 --> 0:02:25.069 Keavin Durant? 0:02:25.228 --> 0:02:25.469 Why? 0:02:25.709 --> 0:02:26.988 I feel like he's next to the line. 0:02:27.469 --> 0:02:30.589 For most of us, we'd envisioned all of, if not 0:02:30.829 --> 0:02:34.108 some of that success coming in Oklahoma City, where he'd 0:02:34.108 --> 0:02:36.469 continue his path to be one of the greats and 0:02:36.549 --> 0:02:41.549 pick up a championship or more along the way. He 0:02:41.668 --> 0:02:46.189 didn't win an Okase, just the one finals appearance, and 0:02:46.309 --> 0:02:49.949 after making the controversial move to Golden State, Durant could 0:02:49.948 --> 0:02:53.668 finally see the championship on the horizon and a lifelong 0:02:53.709 --> 0:02:56.948 goal about to be accomplished, but would it look or 0:02:56.989 --> 0:02:59.989 feel anything like he'd dreamed now that he's on a 0:03:00.029 --> 0:03:04.949 team dubbed too Talented to fail. Last We Left You, 0:03:05.388 --> 0:03:08.829 Durant was facing the possibility of failing. He and the 0:03:08.829 --> 0:03:11.429 Warriors were in the Western Conference Finals against the San 0:03:11.469 --> 0:03:15.228 Antonio Spurs, having not dropped a single game in the playoffs, 0:03:16.549 --> 0:03:19.508 but Kawhi Leonard was cooking in Game one in Oakland. 0:03:19.629 --> 0:03:22.508 With twenty six points through about twenty eight minutes of play, 0:03:23.709 --> 0:03:27.309 the Spurs were stunning the Oakland crowd, leading the Juggernaut 0:03:27.349 --> 0:03:29.709 Warriors by twenty one points. 0:03:30.948 --> 0:03:35.069 Leonard drives muscles his way inside of scores chants for 0:03:35.109 --> 0:03:36.149 a three point play. 0:03:37.749 --> 0:03:41.509 Then, with about eight minutes left in the third Leonard 0:03:41.509 --> 0:03:45.669 received the screen from LaMarcus Aldridge. The Warriors defender switched, 0:03:46.069 --> 0:03:49.549 and with the shot clock under three seconds, Leonard rose 0:03:49.629 --> 0:03:51.949 up for a long two pointer in the left corner 0:03:52.509 --> 0:03:57.149 with a closing Jajah Peculia trying to contest. Peculia's final 0:03:57.189 --> 0:04:00.309 step on his close out ended up in Leonard's landing space, 0:04:00.989 --> 0:04:04.189 and the resulting foot to foot contact would turn the 0:04:04.269 --> 0:04:07.149 game and the series on its head. 0:04:09.389 --> 0:04:16.349 O'clock at eight, Aldrich pushing off on Peturia. Leonard fires 0:04:16.349 --> 0:04:19.868 from the corner and Leonard goes down again. 0:04:21.748 --> 0:04:23.988 And he's in pain again in front of the Spurs 0:04:24.069 --> 0:04:29.349 bench and a Leonard gingerly getting up. 0:04:31.308 --> 0:04:31.588 Again. 0:04:32.029 --> 0:04:34.269 That's what they call all the time, when you get 0:04:34.308 --> 0:04:38.629 your feet into the landing space of the shooter, an 0:04:38.669 --> 0:04:41.189 ankle taking a pounding year of the third quarter, one 0:04:41.229 --> 0:04:42.269 that was already sore. 0:04:46.428 --> 0:04:49.749 As Green pointed out, this wasn't the first time Leonard's 0:04:49.748 --> 0:04:53.868 ankle was stressed in this game. Earlier, Kawhi turned it 0:04:53.909 --> 0:04:56.789 after landing on a teammate's foot. You might remember that 0:04:56.868 --> 0:05:01.229 Spur it was former Warrior David Lee, who'd spent his 0:05:01.269 --> 0:05:02.988 final season in San Antonio. 0:05:03.789 --> 0:05:08.549 Leonard answers back a corner three and Leonards hurt. I 0:05:08.629 --> 0:05:12.869 think on his own guy at about the Spurs wanted 0:05:12.909 --> 0:05:15.789 to stop the clock and Kawhi Leonard is hurt and 0:05:15.949 --> 0:05:17.188 you can see he's upset. 0:05:18.709 --> 0:05:20.789 Just what every kid did on a playground, you tighten 0:05:20.868 --> 0:05:26.229 up that sneaker. And it was in his previous series 0:05:26.389 --> 0:05:30.309 against the Rockets that Leonard initially turned the end. So 0:05:30.389 --> 0:05:34.029 it was already coming into these conference finals vulnerable to 0:05:34.109 --> 0:05:37.589 further damage. Here's Josha wants your sprain ankle. 0:05:37.829 --> 0:05:41.428 It takes weeks to get it right, not only like 0:05:41.509 --> 0:05:43.748 you know, to get it right by you to strengthening 0:05:43.789 --> 0:05:46.708 a game, to get back to normal. It takes weeks. 0:05:46.709 --> 0:05:49.469 So obviously we go during the playoffs. The only thing 0:05:49.509 --> 0:05:53.189 you can do tape it like twice, you know, really 0:05:53.349 --> 0:05:56.868 stabilize it. But ankle is weak. Actually he was playing 0:05:56.909 --> 0:05:59.069 made out of his mind. I knew they that ankle, 0:05:59.189 --> 0:06:01.748 like I really give him so much credit, and you 0:06:01.789 --> 0:06:07.068 know that's amazing character. You know Sprain and Colorati too 0:06:07.469 --> 0:06:11.229 in conference final. And not only he's playing great offensively, 0:06:11.269 --> 0:06:15.988 but defensively kad is I don't want to say no show, 0:06:16.069 --> 0:06:18.709 but he's strucking because you know Kauai is knowing, as 0:06:18.748 --> 0:06:21.909 you know, stop defensive players, stop her with his hands 0:06:21.909 --> 0:06:25.749 and I Q So we down first. 0:06:25.509 --> 0:06:31.789 Game down and doubted there was no Tim Duncan. But 0:06:31.829 --> 0:06:34.629 these were still the Spurs, coached by one of Steve 0:06:34.709 --> 0:06:38.109 Kerr's mentors in Greg Popovich, and following many of the 0:06:38.149 --> 0:06:42.109 same basketball principles the Warriors do. This is where the 0:06:42.149 --> 0:06:47.868 conjecture gets hot and heavy. Did Peculia extend his leg purposely? 0:06:48.949 --> 0:06:52.149 How would game one end if Kawhi was healthy. How 0:06:52.189 --> 0:06:56.269 would the series end if Kawhi was healthy? Petculia can 0:06:56.308 --> 0:07:01.349 answer that first part emphatically. He absolutely did not attempt 0:07:01.389 --> 0:07:05.149 to injure Lennard. And if you've ever spoken to Peculia, 0:07:05.308 --> 0:07:06.589 you tend to believe him. 0:07:07.269 --> 0:07:11.789 Here's his side of the tail. Steve doesn't like when 0:07:11.869 --> 0:07:16.029 you file three point shooter. He hates it because there 0:07:16.109 --> 0:07:22.029 can be a momentum play right false okay, like you know, 0:07:22.109 --> 0:07:25.149 regular file two points like two free throws right, but 0:07:25.749 --> 0:07:31.749 not three okay. And I remember the moment the ball 0:07:31.749 --> 0:07:34.429 goes up in the air, so I challenge it that 0:07:34.589 --> 0:07:37.429 I start watching the ball. I start watching the ball. 0:07:37.709 --> 0:07:40.469 But you know, when you rotate your momentum, because I'm 0:07:40.509 --> 0:07:43.149 six to eleven right to two hundred and seventy five pounds, 0:07:43.309 --> 0:07:46.148 So when I'm going towards something, it's hard to stop. Obviously, 0:07:46.189 --> 0:07:49.869 it starts to stop yourself because you know, again it 0:07:49.909 --> 0:07:52.509 was a hard rotation because I didn't want to give 0:07:52.589 --> 0:07:57.069 up the wide open three. And then I remember I 0:07:57.109 --> 0:08:00.549 didn't touch his hand, like there was no concert or 0:08:00.589 --> 0:08:02.709 you know, body wise, no contacts. Say, I hear the 0:08:02.749 --> 0:08:07.588 whistle and in my mind going like it was going 0:08:07.629 --> 0:08:11.029 on that like, that's not a foul, Like I didn't 0:08:11.069 --> 0:08:13.909 touch him. So I was shocked because now I hated. 0:08:14.029 --> 0:08:16.429 I hate to make mistakes. It's a conference finals, guys, 0:08:16.469 --> 0:08:18.509 like you know, it's not a regular season. It's okay 0:08:18.549 --> 0:08:22.869 to make a mistake. No, it's not, because one miscommunication 0:08:23.069 --> 0:08:26.709 one this kind of the foul can cost you a game. 0:08:26.789 --> 0:08:29.029 It can cost you like the season and the championship. 0:08:29.109 --> 0:08:31.869 Right. So I'm not the young I'm thirty something years old, 0:08:31.909 --> 0:08:36.309 so i understand imponents of the mistakes. So I'm frustrated 0:08:36.389 --> 0:08:40.109 for the bad call, and I start running away from 0:08:40.109 --> 0:08:42.909 the from the referee, and in the middle of the court, 0:08:43.389 --> 0:08:46.869 Pau Gasol was standing there, and I looked at him 0:08:46.909 --> 0:08:50.589 and said, Paul, that's such a BS call. And then 0:08:50.669 --> 0:08:53.149 I turn around, like literally, I turn around, and then 0:08:53.229 --> 0:08:55.869 I see somebody is down and the whole bench is 0:08:55.909 --> 0:08:59.509 around here, and I said, what happened, Pau, And Paul says, 0:08:59.549 --> 0:09:02.909 I don't know, So I said, obviously, then I've realized 0:09:02.949 --> 0:09:05.789 that Kawhi was now but I had no idea what 0:09:05.829 --> 0:09:08.429 would happened? Is he just like he left the corp. 0:09:11.149 --> 0:09:13.829 The Spurs were leading seventy eight to fifty five when 0:09:13.909 --> 0:09:16.909 Leonard left the floor for good. With the shock of 0:09:16.989 --> 0:09:20.869 Kawhi Gon and the Warriors in comeback mode, Golden State 0:09:20.909 --> 0:09:24.629 scored the game's next eighteen points, all. 0:09:24.469 --> 0:09:28.109 Chipped out to Durant, back to Tompson for three time. 0:09:31.229 --> 0:09:35.309 Jenob we trying to draw the fowl Curry a two 0:09:35.389 --> 0:09:39.869 quarter puts it. They're trying to draw the Warriors taking 0:09:39.989 --> 0:09:43.189 out a rhythm Curry with the Steel ahead to Durant. 0:09:43.309 --> 0:09:47.949 Durant drawn out. San Antonio still managed to fight and 0:09:48.029 --> 0:09:50.429 were up eleven in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, 0:09:50.989 --> 0:09:54.069 and with two twelve remaining, the Spurs were still holding 0:09:54.149 --> 0:09:57.509 a three point lead until Steph Curry put the final 0:09:57.589 --> 0:09:59.309 touches on the comeback win. 0:10:00.069 --> 0:10:03.109 All tipped again picked up by Curry Curry for three. 0:10:03.549 --> 0:10:05.069 It's come tie game. 0:10:06.949 --> 0:10:10.229 The Rants got gentlele on a given gold carry place 0:10:10.269 --> 0:10:10.469 it in. 0:10:11.309 --> 0:10:11.869 They called the. 0:10:11.909 --> 0:10:15.869 Goal tend, not golf. The rim early a goal tend 0:10:16.469 --> 0:10:17.749 and that's a five point. 0:10:17.589 --> 0:10:18.549 Lead for the Lord. 0:10:20.149 --> 0:10:24.629 Bill's Missus lead bout tip to not Ti. The Warriors survived, 0:10:24.709 --> 0:10:26.069 but take carey one. 0:10:27.949 --> 0:10:32.629 After the game, Spurs coach Greg Popovich was still quite upset, 0:10:33.309 --> 0:10:36.869 even bringing up multiple physical altercations Peculia had in his 0:10:36.989 --> 0:10:39.669 recent NBA history. 0:10:40.229 --> 0:10:43.869 A two step lead with your foot closing out. He's 0:10:43.949 --> 0:10:50.669 not a program. It's dangerous, it's on sportsmanlife. It's just 0:10:50.789 --> 0:10:53.509 not what anybody does to anybody. 0:10:55.269 --> 0:10:59.989 Popovich's fure certainly stoked the fire after with Peculia being 0:10:59.989 --> 0:11:03.309 painted as a dirty play. It also didn't help that 0:11:03.549 --> 0:11:07.189 the two forces and their respective conferences were so dominant 0:11:07.229 --> 0:11:11.629 in these playoffs. There wasn't much else to discuss to 0:11:11.709 --> 0:11:14.709 this point in the postseason. Neither the Warriors nor the 0:11:14.749 --> 0:11:18.269 Caves had lost the game. The Cavaliers would go on 0:11:18.309 --> 0:11:21.709 to lose just one before getting to the finals, so 0:11:21.869 --> 0:11:26.069 everyone would pounce some Peculia. Well, Peculia was just trying 0:11:26.109 --> 0:11:28.229 to get a message across to Leonard himself. 0:11:29.149 --> 0:11:31.909 I texted him. I texted, I said, I said, hey, man, 0:11:32.789 --> 0:11:35.869 I have so much respect for you. I just want 0:11:35.909 --> 0:11:37.669 you to know from me. That was not in purpose. 0:11:38.669 --> 0:11:40.869 I couldn't control that, right, So I found his number, 0:11:40.949 --> 0:11:43.389 I texted him, and that's all I cared about. But 0:11:43.509 --> 0:11:47.909 then in console the media, the people, right fans, I 0:11:47.949 --> 0:11:51.589 can't control that, So I say, you know what, Yeah, 0:11:51.589 --> 0:11:53.469 I worried of course I wore it, didn't you know 0:11:53.509 --> 0:11:56.109 you would because I knew there was not the case. 0:11:56.909 --> 0:11:59.389 How can you do it? Like, how can to me? 0:11:59.709 --> 0:12:02.829 I can't. I can't even think about how he purposely 0:12:02.869 --> 0:12:07.469 can't do that, like really aimed after thirteen years in 0:12:07.509 --> 0:12:10.189 this season because you never happened before, right, So I 0:12:10.269 --> 0:12:12.989 was waiting for this moment for thirteen years. I knew 0:12:12.989 --> 0:12:16.029 we were going to be down against you know, Western 0:12:16.029 --> 0:12:20.789 Conference Finals, and I say, it just absurd, it's not realistic. 0:12:20.869 --> 0:12:24.029 And yeah, there was too much noise. Even though it's 0:12:24.069 --> 0:12:27.109 easier to say like not to worry about it, but 0:12:27.189 --> 0:12:29.629 I was, I'll be honest. But at the same time, 0:12:29.629 --> 0:12:31.909 I was keep reminding myself, like control whatever is in 0:12:31.909 --> 0:12:36.149 your hand. I texted Kawai and I got a lot 0:12:36.189 --> 0:12:40.149 of text messages from my teammates, you know, so support Kawhi. Yeah, 0:12:40.149 --> 0:12:42.909 we communicated. Yeah, we did the communication, and he said 0:12:42.909 --> 0:12:46.029 it actually after the game in press conference days. I 0:12:46.029 --> 0:12:48.469 don't think it was intentional. 0:12:51.149 --> 0:12:53.989 Curry and Durant combined for seventy four in that game, 0:12:54.029 --> 0:12:58.349 one win, and without the resistance of Leonard, the Warriors 0:12:58.429 --> 0:13:02.789 coasted to wins of thirty six, twelve, and fourteen points 0:13:03.109 --> 0:13:06.469 to it to their third straight NBA Finals. 0:13:07.669 --> 0:13:10.029 As the Warriors are headed to the NBA Finals for 0:13:10.149 --> 0:13:11.549 the third consecutive year. 0:13:13.749 --> 0:13:17.509 To this point, the Warriors' dominance was just as predicted. 0:13:18.429 --> 0:13:20.789 They were just the third team to sweep the first 0:13:20.869 --> 0:13:23.669 three rounds of the playoffs, along with the eighty three 0:13:23.749 --> 0:13:27.309 six Ers and the one Lakers, and it was doing 0:13:27.389 --> 0:13:30.709 nothing to quiet those who were critical of Kevin Durant 0:13:30.869 --> 0:13:35.789 for joining the championship ready Warriors. Golden State needed a challenge, 0:13:36.349 --> 0:13:39.989 at least in the eyes of sports purists, and all 0:13:39.989 --> 0:13:42.789 that was left was the same team that faced the 0:13:42.829 --> 0:13:48.309 previous two finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not only were the 0:13:48.429 --> 0:13:52.429 NBA Finals old hat to many of these Warriors, but 0:13:52.469 --> 0:13:57.269 playing against Lebron in this series was also not to Durant. However, 0:13:58.309 --> 0:14:00.909 he hadn't faced Lebron in the finals in five seasons, 0:14:01.669 --> 0:14:04.829 and he'd never won a title, while all the primary 0:14:04.869 --> 0:14:10.389 parties on both teams already had. Despite that, JaVale McGee 0:14:10.509 --> 0:14:13.949 doesn't recall much win one for Kadie talk throughout that 0:14:14.029 --> 0:14:16.149 season or in the playoffs. 0:14:16.589 --> 0:14:18.829 I think everybody just went out there to be a professional, 0:14:19.269 --> 0:14:21.949 and I played basketball and we knew if we win, 0:14:22.789 --> 0:14:25.469 that's the only way we can defend KD. And if 0:14:25.469 --> 0:14:28.549 we keep winning. We never had like internal conversations like, hey, 0:14:28.549 --> 0:14:32.589 we need to protect KD. Mainly because he's a grown man, 0:14:32.789 --> 0:14:35.029 so I'm sure he'll be okay. 0:14:36.109 --> 0:14:40.829 Durant was beyond okay. In his first two Finals games 0:14:40.829 --> 0:14:44.629 with Golden State, he'd score thirty eight and thirty three, respectively, 0:14:45.549 --> 0:14:48.109 and then in Game three in Cleveland, he put up 0:14:48.149 --> 0:14:52.229 another efficient thirty one, but it was the final few 0:14:52.229 --> 0:14:57.069 points that'll be remembered most. With two nineteen left, Steph 0:14:57.149 --> 0:15:01.269 Curry narrowed the Cavaliers lead before Durant took over from back. 0:15:02.949 --> 0:15:07.629 Games go, Durant Thompson on the switch, Durant drives. 0:15:07.989 --> 0:15:09.589 That's a great look. It finishes. 0:15:10.069 --> 0:15:13.709 It's too easy. After the switch James with. 0:15:13.789 --> 0:15:19.469 Eight to shoot. James pulls back, drives again, kicks it 0:15:19.469 --> 0:15:23.469 out cover corner three and kenned the fall rebound. Durant 0:15:25.309 --> 0:15:26.229 Duran for three. 0:15:26.549 --> 0:15:27.069 An's good. 0:15:27.309 --> 0:15:30.949 Kevin Durant from towntown and Golden State takes the lead. 0:15:33.389 --> 0:15:36.509 Duran has it corver all over him and there's the coal. 0:15:37.429 --> 0:15:40.949 Kevin Durant a great free throw shooter and suddenly this 0:15:41.029 --> 0:15:43.389 building stunned by a quick turn of events. 0:15:44.749 --> 0:15:48.869 The stunning three pointer Durant confidently took over a surprised 0:15:48.949 --> 0:15:54.069 Lebron James will likely be Durant's signature championship moment because 0:15:54.429 --> 0:15:58.709 despite the opponent, there wasn't much of a challenge. The 0:15:58.709 --> 0:16:01.989 Warriors did drop Game four in Cleveland, allowing them to 0:16:01.989 --> 0:16:05.029 celebrate the championship at home with a relatively easy game 0:16:05.069 --> 0:16:06.309 five ways. 0:16:06.189 --> 0:16:10.629 The road to redemption that has the Warriors back home. 0:16:10.669 --> 0:16:14.229 Warriors are about two thousand seventeen champion. 0:16:16.509 --> 0:16:18.509 That split second was just what it's all for. 0:16:19.349 --> 0:16:20.469 That two or three seconds. 0:16:20.509 --> 0:16:22.789 Soon as the buzzer sound, I swear it was about. 0:16:22.549 --> 0:16:33.189 Fore Durant was a champion in his tenth season in 0:16:33.229 --> 0:16:35.949 the league, and he might have just won it as 0:16:35.989 --> 0:16:39.589 a member of the greatest team ever. That last part 0:16:39.749 --> 0:16:43.269 will forever be up for debate, but not the championship part. 0:16:44.789 --> 0:16:50.669 This seems like a dream wide away. 0:16:55.829 --> 0:16:59.829 This, according to Slater, felt like everything it was supposed 0:16:59.869 --> 0:17:03.269 to for KD in that celebratory moment, although a. 0:17:03.749 --> 0:17:05.829 Lot like the outside world viewed it as man this 0:17:05.949 --> 0:17:08.989 was an easy title like it was that first one, 0:17:09.069 --> 0:17:11.709 was really celebrated hard, especially by him. I remember he 0:17:11.829 --> 0:17:15.709 was a Finals MVP. He was with his mom, meeting 0:17:15.709 --> 0:17:18.309 with Bill Russell, taking pictures with Bill Russell, and like 0:17:18.429 --> 0:17:21.789 it felt like the pinnacle moment that he went there 0:17:21.869 --> 0:17:25.029 to have. And then there's the famous video of him 0:17:25.109 --> 0:17:27.709 leaving Oracle that night in his I believe it was 0:17:27.709 --> 0:17:29.709 a Tesla when Tesla was like, wow, this guy. You know, 0:17:29.949 --> 0:17:32.309 this guy's got a Tesla and he gets out of 0:17:32.349 --> 0:17:34.069 the car. He's not driving, by the way. I remember, 0:17:34.109 --> 0:17:36.749 he's in the passenger seat because obviously he had had 0:17:36.789 --> 0:17:39.109 a few things to drink. And he gets out in 0:17:39.189 --> 0:17:42.829 the whole Warriors crowd in the Oracle parking lot swarms 0:17:42.909 --> 0:17:45.429 him and he's like holding up the trophy, and that, 0:17:45.589 --> 0:17:47.669 to me has always been like that was the pinnacle 0:17:47.669 --> 0:17:48.949 moment of the Kevin Durant era. 0:17:49.429 --> 0:17:53.509 The moment, however, wouldn't last as long as Durant envisioned. 0:17:54.709 --> 0:17:57.749 That's because after the championship and the ease with which 0:17:57.789 --> 0:18:01.429 it came, Durant wasn't allowed to bask in his glory 0:18:01.429 --> 0:18:05.509 from atop the sports world. He was still defending himself 0:18:05.509 --> 0:18:08.189 for deciding to play with the Warriors and making it 0:18:08.229 --> 0:18:10.429 all look so easy here, slave. 0:18:11.669 --> 0:18:13.549 This was an all time great at the peak of 0:18:13.589 --> 0:18:19.309 his powers succeeding and being told that, like, you know, 0:18:20.029 --> 0:18:23.668 who cares. You know, it was an easy path to 0:18:23.669 --> 0:18:26.349 do it, and you know that frustrated him. And he's 0:18:26.389 --> 0:18:28.509 given interviews and I've even talked to him a little 0:18:28.509 --> 0:18:32.869 bit in that aftermath those next couple of seasons that 0:18:33.549 --> 0:18:36.389 he definitely came to grips over that, probably that week 0:18:36.429 --> 0:18:38.589 after the title, but certainly in the years after that, 0:18:38.749 --> 0:18:41.869 Like and other athletes have said this, like they just 0:18:41.949 --> 0:18:44.669 are they obsess over getting the title, and he had 0:18:44.669 --> 0:18:46.989 had so many close calls in Oklahoma City, and like 0:18:47.069 --> 0:18:49.629 he just it burned him to get the title. And 0:18:49.669 --> 0:18:52.789 then you get it and then you celebrate and you know, 0:18:52.909 --> 0:18:54.509 because it's happened, and then you wake up the next 0:18:54.589 --> 0:18:58.069 day and it's like same life, same issues I may 0:18:58.109 --> 0:19:00.669 have had outside the court saying, you know, like it's 0:19:00.749 --> 0:19:04.389 not as fulfilling as you thought it might have been. 0:19:05.469 --> 0:19:07.709 And then of course, you know, his was wrapped into 0:19:07.789 --> 0:19:10.509 like the criticisms of how he did it, and you 0:19:10.549 --> 0:19:12.029 know the fact that he's sitting there going, look, I've 0:19:12.109 --> 0:19:13.429 kind of just proved I was the best player in 0:19:13.469 --> 0:19:13.869 the world. 0:19:14.349 --> 0:19:17.989 Probably the most painful singer in Durant's direction, and certainly 0:19:17.989 --> 0:19:22.029 the most memorable, came just one month after the championship 0:19:22.989 --> 0:19:25.908 at the SB Awards, where the world is supposed to 0:19:25.949 --> 0:19:30.149 celebrate the greatest athletes and their accomplishments. A former pro athlete, 0:19:30.349 --> 0:19:33.909 Peyton Manning was the host, and then his opening monologue, 0:19:34.309 --> 0:19:37.708 he directed a joke at Durant that didn't appear to 0:19:37.789 --> 0:19:40.109 land well with the reigning finals MVP. 0:19:41.909 --> 0:19:45.469 I love that the final five won the most Olympic 0:19:45.509 --> 0:19:56.069 medals of any US women's gymnastics team ever, and our 0:19:56.109 --> 0:19:59.429 gymnastics team was so dominant that Kevin Durant told me 0:19:59.469 --> 0:20:15.668 he wants to play for them next year. And I 0:20:15.709 --> 0:20:18.749 gotta tell you, I don't think you'd sung for that team. Kevin, Yeah, 0:20:19.269 --> 0:20:23.069 Russell leftro what do you bet? 0:20:25.509 --> 0:20:29.188 The camera cut to Durant immediately after the punchline, and 0:20:29.269 --> 0:20:32.829 he did not appear amused. Wearing a T shirt to 0:20:32.869 --> 0:20:37.029 an awards event was very durant. So was the continued 0:20:37.069 --> 0:20:39.989 blank face he was giving the camera and by extension, 0:20:40.229 --> 0:20:44.829 Peyton Manning and every single hater. This is what the 0:20:44.869 --> 0:20:48.389 off season, and frankly, the remainder of Durant's Golden State 0:20:48.469 --> 0:20:52.629 career would be people discussing the fairness of the Warriors 0:20:53.029 --> 0:20:58.469 or the competitive spirit of Durant making matters worse. About 0:20:58.469 --> 0:21:01.389 a month before Durant's second season started with the Warriors, 0:21:01.869 --> 0:21:04.668 he was exposed for having a burner account on Twitter 0:21:04.869 --> 0:21:08.869 that he'd used to defend himself against often anonymous critics. 0:21:09.669 --> 0:21:13.428 Durant tweeted a response to a user criticizing his exit 0:21:13.429 --> 0:21:18.069 from OKC, writing in the third person quote, he didn't 0:21:18.149 --> 0:21:21.949 like the organization or playing for Billy Donovan. His roster 0:21:22.109 --> 0:21:25.589 wasn't that good. It was just him and Russ. Durant 0:21:25.629 --> 0:21:29.189 added in another tweet, imagine taking Russ off that team, 0:21:29.589 --> 0:21:32.549 see how bad they were. Katie couldn't win a championship 0:21:32.549 --> 0:21:37.589 with those Cats. The only problem was Durant tweeted those 0:21:37.629 --> 0:21:42.109 from his actual verified account, not the burner account he created. 0:21:42.669 --> 0:21:43.149 Whoops. 0:21:44.989 --> 0:21:48.589 Not only did it unleash loud criticism, but Durant was 0:21:48.669 --> 0:21:52.589 viewed as overly sensitive to critics, and it allowed people 0:21:52.629 --> 0:21:57.269 to further dissect one of the league's best players. Durant 0:21:57.269 --> 0:22:00.709 has since said his burner account experience was about living 0:22:00.709 --> 0:22:04.189 a normal life, which speaks to the difficult of living 0:22:04.229 --> 0:22:07.869 as public a life as Durant has. Rachel Nichols has 0:22:07.909 --> 0:22:12.429 watched image transformations happen in the NBA before, including Lebron 0:22:12.549 --> 0:22:15.189 James's switch from a villain his first year in Miami 0:22:15.509 --> 0:22:19.428 to a much more likable person after. She believes that 0:22:19.469 --> 0:22:22.549 the introspect of Durant could have been embraced a bit 0:22:22.589 --> 0:22:25.749 more if he just opened up about his decisions and 0:22:25.789 --> 0:22:29.269 his emotions, so the viewing public can perhaps relate to 0:22:29.349 --> 0:22:29.909 Tad better. 0:22:30.469 --> 0:22:34.269 I think Kevin Durant is somehow underrated. Still, he is 0:22:34.309 --> 0:22:36.869 an exceptional player. I put him higher in my all 0:22:36.909 --> 0:22:38.909 time list than I think a lot of other people do. 0:22:39.509 --> 0:22:43.349 I think because his nature is not to over explain himself. 0:22:43.709 --> 0:22:46.549 I think because he is laid back. I think because 0:22:46.789 --> 0:22:51.109 he doesn't really engage in what the media thinks, even 0:22:51.149 --> 0:22:53.429 though he is very online with what the fans think. 0:22:54.029 --> 0:22:58.189 I think that he didn't articulate his case. He didn't 0:22:58.229 --> 0:23:00.469 feel like he needed to. He shouldn't have to answer 0:23:00.509 --> 0:23:03.509 to anyone. I respect that Kevin Durant can run in 0:23:03.549 --> 0:23:05.629 his life any way he wants, but I think it 0:23:05.669 --> 0:23:08.908 made a big difference and hurt him for years. And 0:23:08.949 --> 0:23:12.629 I think it affected for years his career decisions and choices. 0:23:13.109 --> 0:23:16.589 And I think if he had been able to really 0:23:16.709 --> 0:23:20.109 explain himself how he felt, why he did this, what 0:23:20.149 --> 0:23:22.109 he was getting out of it, beyond just oh and 0:23:22.149 --> 0:23:25.029 now I can win a ring that he wasn't solely 0:23:25.149 --> 0:23:27.229 ring chasing. I think if he had been able to 0:23:27.309 --> 0:23:30.389 connect with fans on that level and made that effort 0:23:30.469 --> 0:23:32.509 to do that, I think it not only would have 0:23:32.589 --> 0:23:35.269 changed the way people felt in subsequent years about the 0:23:35.309 --> 0:23:38.509 Warriors winning titles. I think that Kevin Durant would still 0:23:38.509 --> 0:23:41.549 be in Golden State right now. I think that it 0:23:41.589 --> 0:23:44.949 had that deep an impact, and that if the strategy 0:23:44.989 --> 0:23:48.029 on the marketing and pr had been different, I think 0:23:48.029 --> 0:23:50.189 that that would have changed the course of the way 0:23:50.229 --> 0:23:52.629 the NBA went over the next five to seven years. 0:23:52.909 --> 0:23:55.509 And again, I want to be clear, I don't think 0:23:55.549 --> 0:23:57.429 what Kevin did, the way he played it or people 0:23:57.469 --> 0:24:00.509 advised him, was wrong, because it was Kevin's decision. You 0:24:00.549 --> 0:24:03.269 can do whatever you want, it's your career. But if 0:24:03.269 --> 0:24:05.509 he had done it differently, had he had been comfortable 0:24:05.589 --> 0:24:08.029 or wanted to do it differently, that I think it 0:24:08.029 --> 0:24:14.029