Former Golden State Warriors guard Quinn Cook revealed that Kevin Durant entered the 2017-18 season determined to help Stephen Curry capture his first NBA Finals MVP award.
Speaking on The Player’s Choice podcast, Cook recalled Durant’s mindset after winning the honor in 2017. “Kevin wanted Steph to get that Finals MVP the next year so bad. That’s all he was talking about all season,” Cook said, as reported by NBC Sports Bay Area. “He wanted him to shut up the naysayers.”
According to Cook, Durant’s unselfish approach was clear from the start. Despite being the go-to scorer in critical moments, he prioritized opportunities for Curry to shine.
The Warriors faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals for the fourth straight year. Curry’s Game 2 performance appeared to strengthen his MVP case when he broke the Finals record with nine made three-pointers.
However, the momentum shifted in Game 3. Curry struggled from the field, while Durant delivered a dominant 43-point performance, including a decisive deep three in the final minutes. Cook noted that Durant “accidentally walked into 40” that night.
By Game 4, Durant’s all-around impact sealed his second consecutive Finals MVP. He posted a triple-double, even without aggressively hunting his own shot. “That’s just how good he is,” Cook said.
Durant’s back-to-back Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 remain a defining part of his Warriors legacy. Still, Cook’s comments suggest that behind the accolades was a superstar focused on sharing the spotlight with his teammate.
Curry eventually secured his first Finals MVP in 2022 after leading Golden State to its fourth title in eight years. The moment, four years after Durant’s departure, fulfilled the vision Durant once had for his backcourt partner.
