Former NBA champion claimed the Golden State Warriors had a smaller Kevin Durant in 2014.
The summer of 2016 is engraved in the memories of most NBA fans for two major reasons. First, the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Second, 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant shocked the world when he announced leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Warriors.
Durant instantly went from a fan favorite to one of the most criticized players in the league. However, before KD’s infamous move to the Warriors, one NBA legend believed that the Dubs already had a ‘smaller Kevin Durant’ on the roster.
Photo by Harry How/Getty ImagesJerry West compared Stephen Curry to Kevin Durant
Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is viewed as the best shooter of all time. Many believe Curry is one-of-one and he cannot be compared to any other star.
After all, no NBA player utilized the three-point shot as much as Steph did during his rise to stardom in the 2010s.
Despite that, the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West, who was also the Warriors’ advisor in 2014, revealed Curry’s game reminded him of Durant.
“He’s unique in a lot of ways, and he kind of reminds me a little bit of a smaller Kevin Durant. He’s so much fun to watch,” West told SLAM Magazine.
He added: “There are three or four players in the league I’d pay to see play, and he is one of them. The other thing I don’t think people realize is what a great competitor he is.
“He was also raised really well by his parents; he’s very grounded. He’s a pleasure to be around.”
Little did West know at the time that Curry and Durant would soon join forces as they would go on one of the most dominant runs of all time.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were unstoppable together
Although the Warriors had already won one NBA Championship in 2015, it wasn’t until Durant joined the team that they truly became an unstoppable force in the league.
Durant stayed with the Dubs for three seasons and the organization made three straight NBA Finals runs.
As expected, the Warriors won back-to-back NBA titles in 2017 and 2018, with Durant taking home the NBA Finals MVP award both times.
If it weren’t for an injury-riddled playoff run, the Dubs would have likely won the 2019 NBA Championship and completed a three-peat.