WHY DURANT MADE THE RIGHT DECISION; CP3 and Dr. J

There is much discussion and criticism around the decision Kevin Durant made to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join forces with the three All Stars at the Golden State Warriors. He’s been called a coward, a band wagoner, a cheat, and worse. Part of the anger comes from a sense of his value to the small market OKC region, and supposed abandonment of them. Part of it emanates from a sense of inevitability of success on Golden State given the plethora of talent. There is also a lingering resentment of the partnership Lebron James crafted in Miami with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, and what they achieved in reaching four consecutive NBA Finals, winning two championships. This emerging Warrior contingent is seen by many as the second coming of those Miami Heat. I’ve heard strong opinions from Mike and Mike, as well as Stephen A. Smith.

So, what should Kevin Durant have done? I refer you to the examples of Chris Paul and Julius Erving, which for me clearly exhibit the wisdom of his choice.

Julius Erving is my favorite basketball player of all time, and certainly there can be no question that he was one of the best to ever lace up a pair of sneakers. However, when Shaquille O’Neal indicated in 2014 and again in 2015 that he viewed Dr. J, as Erving was called, as the best ever, his opinion was widely ridiculed. Erving only won one NBA championship, and the most productive player on that championship team had been Moses Malone. How could Dr. J be the best ever?

If we look deeper, however, Julius Erving accomplished a great deal before he entered the NBA at age 26. He won two ABA championships in that rival league whose demise ushered in the assimilation of great players like Malone, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, David Thompson, and Marvin Barnes into prominent NBA careers. From his play at the Rucker Summer League in Harlem, New York, through his ABA career, to his assault onto the NBA hardwood, Julius Erving legitimized a high flying, free wheeling style that enabled the Michael Jordans, Kobe Bryants, Lebron Jameses, and even Steph Currys who would follow. He carried the ABA, dominated the NBA, but didn’t have the teams, coaches, and organizations around him to win more than one NBA title. Thus, he is diminished historically.

Players want to win that elusive NBA title. Chris Paul realized his situation in New Orleans wasn’t conducive to that, and he bolted for the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA Commissioner David Stern, however, with New Orleans under league supervision and in search of an owner at the time, looked at CP3 joining Kobe Bryant and his perennially contending Lakers as not in the best interest of the league. He later allowed CP3 to join the Clippers, which raised the Clippers’ fortunes while the Lakers slipped into mediocrity. The Laker organization will never forget that. Neither will Chris Paul, who hasn’t realized his dream of an NBA championship to this day, and may never get one.

Kevin Durant recognized that his best opportunity for a championship, perhaps multiple championships was before him in the presence of unrestricted free agency and an eager landing place in Golden State. He took it. Its a better fate than Dr. J or CP3 are doomed to in recorded history.