Former NBA guard Iman Shumpert recently shared his candid thoughts on Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016, a move he believes shifted the competitive balance of the NBA. Shumpert, who faced the Warriors in four consecutive NBA Finals as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers, spoke out on his new show, Taking One For The Team, via ClutchPoints.
“KD already ruined it and he went over there with Steph, so they couldn’t be arch enemies,” Shumpert said, referring to Durant teaming up with Stephen Curry, already a two-time MVP at the time. “That hurt everybody’s heart.”
Durant’s move to the Warriors after they won 73 games in the 2015-2016 season led to widespread criticism from fans and players alike. Many, like Shumpert, believed that adding Durant to an already dominant team made the competition unfair.
Shumpert expressed that even though he was disappointed, he understood why Durant made the decision. “’Bron, don’t do that. Don’t hurt us all. We’re all going to cry and then we’re going to watch it,” Shumpert added, referencing the inevitability of watching Durant’s success on the Warriors, despite the frustration many felt.
Durant’s arrival in Golden State resulted in the Warriors winning back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. Shumpert, part of the Cavaliers team that defeated the Warriors in the 2016 Finals, felt the addition of Durant made the league’s landscape lopsided.
“I’m going to enjoy that a lot, but don’t do that. That’s not fair,” Shumpert concluded, emphasizing how Durant’s decision impacted the competitive nature of the league.
Despite the criticism, Durant defended his choice by stating that he wanted to win championships, and he achieved that goal with two titles and two Finals MVPs during his time with the Warriors.
Shumpert’s perspective reflects the sentiment of many players and fans who saw the move as a shift in the NBA’s balance of power. While Durant has since moved on to the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, his legacy with the Warriors continues to be a point of discussion.