Kevin Durant’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors will always be remembered as a very polarizing one. On one end, he saved the team from being remembered as the franchise that blew a 3-1 lead in the finals with a 73-9 team. On the other end, his addition always felt unnecessary.
With how over the top Durant made the Warriors, it created a sense of odd criticism for both Durant and Steph Curry when it came to winning NBA Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018. While Warriors star Draymond Green was the one who helped recruit Durant to the Warriors, he was also the one who helped drive him away.
Jan 15, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the ball ahead of forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Despite the differences between each other, Green is also one of the few who are willing to give Durant his props as a Warrior while also having valid criticism. Green shared his thoughts on the Draymond Green Show.
“I am never one that’s gonna be like, yo, [Kevin] got championships because he came here,” Green said. “No. He helped us get championships. What I will say is, he never gets the championship if he doesn’t come here. Because I just don’t foresee that happening anywhere else or else we would have saw it again happening somewhere else. It was a match made in heaven.”
Draymond Green response to Kevin Durant saved Warriors players legacies
“Kevin Durant never gets a Championship if he doesn’t come here… but you don’t get 2 Finals MVP if you don’t deserve rings — that’s just kind of a dumb thing to say.”
(Via @DraymondShow) pic.twitter.com/uxDjXCNFBJ
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 27, 2025
The biggest criticism that fans like to make of Durant’s time on the Warriors is that he didn’t deserve the two championship rings that he won. He couldn’t win elsewhere besides the Warriors, and that was with arguably the most stacked basketball team of all time.
Dec 28, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) waits for play to resume against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images / Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
It’s a stance that Draymond Green disagrees with. Durant deserves every bit of success that he earned with the Golden State Wariors.
“I am not one of those people who is on the bandwagon of, Kevin didn’t do nothing, Kevin doesn’t deserve those rings, Green added. “You don’t win two Finals MVPs if you don’t deserve rings – that’s just kind of a dumb thing to say.”
May 8, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images / Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Unfortunately for Durant, the reality of the situation is that Steph Curry won another NBA championship after his departure, while Durant has been unable to do the same after joining multiple superteams.