Kevin Durant Longhorn Legend

[HookEm 2493]

On 1/12/2023 at 5:23 PM, Pam Cummings said:

I understand why we love KD. He's great. And he hasn't been an embarassment for UT off the court, other than some dumb social media activity. But, i will never budge that going to GS was a bitch move that ruined the NBA for 3 years.

If he didn’t go to Golden State he would have gone to Boston and they would have been great too. And if not LeBron would have just won more titles. Or would you rather he stayed in OKC with Westbrook?

Regardless of all that it is still moronic to question whether he is “one of our own”. The thread title should be insulting to any UT basketball fan. I honestly can’t believe we still have it on this site. And it isn’t even possible to start a NEW thread so we are stuck with this disgrace.

[shadow_operative 15932]

On 1/12/2023 at 12:35 PM, HookEm said:

Disagree. The OP was questioning whether the best athlete in UT history (from a career perspective), who won every major award at Texas, who has his jersey RETIRED and who continued to support the program to the tune of $3.5M... is actually "one of our own".  On a UT sports board, I don't think it is possible to have a worse take.

the OP wasn't questioning if KD is one of our own, he was asking the question aloud because there was such a strong and aggressively negative narrative towards KD from so many posters here. you can keep getting mad about it all you want, it doesn't change the fact that it was 100% appropriate to question how this board felt about KD at the time. "not a Longhorn; doesn't represent my University; was barely on campus; bitch; piece of shit; fake; front runner; loser." all of that shit was said about him by actual UT fans and graduates from this board. "not possible to have a worse take"? your take is worse than the OP's. to denounce that thread title is to deny all of the insane bullshit that was talked about KD by the denizens of this forum. 

Edited January 14, 2023 by shadow_operative

[shadow_operative 15932]

On 1/12/2023 at 5:23 PM, Pam Cummings said:

I understand why we love KD. He's great. And he hasn't been an embarassment for UT off the court, other than some dumb social media activity. But, i will never budge that going to GS was a bitch move that ruined the NBA for 3 years.

if he never went to GS he wouldn't have any rings and instead of him being a bitch for joining the Dubs he'd just be a loser who can't win titles. he'd been in the league for nine years and had made one finals appearance where his team had been run out of the gym, and yet it's your position that he should have turned down his first real chance to win titles and instead joined some non contender where he could waste away the final few years of his absolute prime. talk about bad takes.

[Hate 20232]

I’d still have more respect for him.

And non-contender?? He was in the WCF. One of the 4 teams left with a chance to win the title and up 3-1 with a game at home. Just fucking stop. Any team he is on is a contender.

[shadow_operative 15932]

the 25 titles won from 1980-2005 were won by 7 total teams, and that number would almost certainly be six of MJ hadn't taken time off. KD didn't alter the fabric of the already insanely top heavy league when he joined the Dubs, and more than LeBron did when he teamed up with Bosh, Wade, and Pat Riley, or when the Celtics came up with their own Big 3 (four counting Rondo). the 80's Celtics had 5-6 HOF guys on the roster. KD joined the team that gave him the best chance to win, and his entire legacy would be greatly diminished gad he done so. how that makes him a bitch, i will never understand. 

3 minutes ago, Hate said:

I’d still have more respect for him.

And non-contender?? He was in the WCF. One of the 4 teams left with a chance to win the title and up 3-1 with a game at home. Just fucking stop. Any team he is on is a contender.

if any team he is on is a contender then why does he have one total career finals appearance outside of his time at GS? 

[ztejas 44114]

14 minutes ago, shadow_operative said:

if any team he is on is a contender then why does he have one total career finals appearance outside of his time at GS? 

He's lost 3 seasons due to injuries where his team was - or would have been - one of the 3-4 best teams in the NBA. The seasons where he and his best teammates were healthy for the playoffs his record is:

- lost 1st round (to eventual champ)

- lost WCF (to eventual champ)

- lost Finals

- lost WCF (to eventual champ)

- lost WCF

- won Finals

- won Finals

- lost Finals (even with injury issues)

I guess you can include last season but that team was a dumpster fire outside of KD and wouldn't have made the playoffs if he had played just a few less games during the regular season. 

Durant has been eliminated from the playoffs by a team that didn't win the championship three times in his 15 year career. 2013 when Westbrook tore his MCL, 2016 to the 73 win Warriors and 2022 to the Celtics. 

Put KD in the East and LeBron in the West from 2011-2016 and they probably have the same number of Finals appearances. 

Edited January 14, 2023 by ztejas

[statsman 5682]

Ever talk to OKC fans? They bring up the 2026 WCF as if it were the single most significant series in history, and KD’s defining moment. Now, he was the best player, over seven games, on a court with five HoFers. Still, OKC didn’t win, and somehow that’s KD’s fault. (They love Russ, because Russ didn’t leave…for a while). 
 
to me, it’s crazy. That was a team that started Andre Roberson as SG (GS had Klay) and counted on Dion Waiters as the sixth man reserve for four starters (GS had Iguadoula). They were lucky to be in it. Still,…Okies, I guess.  

[HookEm 2493]

For OKC fans, it sounds like he isn’t “one of their own”

[Hate 20232]

34 minutes ago, shadow_operative said:

the 25 titles won from 1980-2005 were won by 7 total teams, and that number would almost certainly be six of MJ hadn't taken time off. KD didn't alter the fabric of the already insanely top heavy league when he joined the Dubs, and more than LeBron did when he teamed up with Bosh, Wade, and Pat Riley, or when the Celtics came up with their own Big 3 (four counting Rondo). the 80's Celtics had 5-6 HOF guys on the roster. KD joined the team that gave him the best chance to win, and his entire legacy would be greatly diminished gad he done so. how that makes him a bitch, i will never understand. 

if any team he is on is a contender then why does he have one total career finals appearance outside of his time at GS? 

Not every contender makes the Finals. 

[Pam Cummings 9827]

11 hours ago, statsman said:

Ever talk to OKC fans? They bring up the 2026 WCF as if it were the single most significant series in history, and KD’s defining moment. Now, he was the best player, over seven games, on a court with five HoFers. Still, OKC didn’t win, and somehow that’s KD’s fault. (They love Russ, because Russ didn’t leave…for a while). 
 
to me, it’s crazy. That was a team that started Andre Roberson as SG (GS had Klay) and counted on Dion Waiters as the sixth man reserve for four starters (GS had Iguadoula). They were lucky to be in it. Still,…Okies, I guess.  

He left them for the team that literally just broke their hearts. How hard is that to comprehend? Of fucking course they'd be bitter. Spurs fans hate Kawhi for leaving and HE ACTUALLY WON US A CHAMPIONSHIP.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Pam Cummings

[ChiTownDoc 21326]

11 hours ago, statsman said:

Ever talk to OKC fans? They bring up the 2026 WCF as if it were the single most significant series in history, and KD’s defining moment. Now, he was the best player, over seven games, on a court with five HoFers. Still, OKC didn’t win, and somehow that’s KD’s fault. (They love Russ, because Russ didn’t leave…for a while). 
 
to me, it’s crazy. That was a team that started Andre Roberson as SG (GS had Klay) and counted on Dion Waiters as the sixth man reserve for four starters (GS had Iguadoula). They were lucky to be in it. Still,…Okies, I guess.  

Lol.  Yes that’s definitely an ‘okies’ take.  No other sports fans would react like that.  Great call.  

[hobbes2702 13354]

18 hours ago, statsman said:

Crazy, because I thoroughly enjoyed those three years. KD joined GS to explore next generation basketball, while Russ stayed to give ‘90s ball one more good try. Russ win awards, KD won championships (two of my fave moments are his pull up dagger shots over LeBron). 

Haters hate

[hobbes2702 13354]

13 hours ago, shadow_operative said:

the OP wasn't questioning if KD is one of our own, he was asking the question aloud because there was such a strong and aggressively negative narrative towards KD from so many posters here. you can keep getting mad about it all you want, it doesn't change the fact that it was 100% appropriate to question how this board felt about KD at the time. "not a Longhorn; doesn't represent my University; was barely on campus; bitch; piece of shit; fake; front runner; loser." all of that shit was said about him by actual UT fans and graduates from this board. "not possible to have a worse take"? your take is worse than the OP's. to denounce that thread title is to deny all of the insane bullshit that was talked about KD by the denizens of this forum. 

No it isn’t. The thread titles gives morons like that cover. We don’t get to decide who is and isn’t a longhorn. 
There’s a poster on this site who loves to decree people “t shirt fans”. That’s aggy shit. There’s no question about him being a longhorn and we shouldn’t validate that stupid opinion by acting like it’s reasonable 

[statsman 5682]

See? Those (Pam and ChiTown) are amazing takes. 
 
You had a generational talent that tried to embrace the city, who more than anything wanted to play the game the right way. He was giving signs of unhappiness with the team’s direction years in advance (I started a thread in the old site about it, in 2014, pointing out that KD was going to be looking around in 2016 unless OKC got its act together- the OKC fans responded with 1. He will stay because that’s where he gets the most money 2. OKC is his best chance to win a championship 3. If he’s unhappy, why doesn’t he just play better?).  Can you imagine Milwaukee fans in 2019 being that way about Giannis? With them, it was more like “the organization better put the best team it can around Giannis while they can. If this GM can’t do it, we’ll find one that can.”  That’s rational. 
 
Instead, OKC kept rolling out the same lineup, waiting for Russ to mature as a point guard (narrator: “he wouldn’t”), playing that same gawdawful version of basketball of having no more than three shooters ever on the court at the same time, and slowly building resentment against KD for not making it work. No ire at all for Presti. Just KD. 
 
Okies. 

Edited January 14, 2023 by statsman

[Pam Cummings 9827]

16 minutes ago, hobbes2702 said:

No it isn’t. The thread titles gives morons like that cover. We don’t get to decide who is and isn’t a longhorn. 
There’s a poster on this site who loves to decree people “t shirt fans”. That’s aggy shit. There’s no question about him being a longhorn and we shouldn’t validate that stupid opinion by acting like it’s reasonable 

I agree it's dumb. He's absolutely a Longhorn and has done a lot of good things and represented the university well for the most part. But i'm not going to hold back on valid criticisms just because someone went to the same school i did. That's actual aggie behavior.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Pam Cummings

[Pam Cummings 9827]

15 minutes ago, statsman said:

See? Those (Pam and ChiTown) are amazing takes. 
 
You had a generational talent that tried to embrace the city, who more than anything wanted to play the game the right way. He was giving signs of unhappiness with the team’s direction years in advance (I started a thread in the old site about it, in 2014, pointing out that KD was going to be looking around in 2016 unless OKC got its act together- the OKC fans responded with 1. He will stay because that’s where he gets the most money 2. OKC is his best chance to win a championship 3. If he’s unhappy, why doesn’t he just play better?).  Can you imagine Milwaukee fans in 2019 being that way about Giannis? With them, it was more like “the organization better put the best team it can around Giannis while they can. If this GM can’t do it, we’ll find one that can.”  That’s rational. 
 
Instead, OKC kept rolling out the same lineup, waiting for Russ to mature as a point guard (narrator: “he wouldn’t”), playing that same gawdawful version of basketball of having no more than three shooters ever on the court at the same time, and slowly building resentment against KD for not making it work. No ire at all for Presti. Just KD. 
 
Okies. 

If you want to criticize the organization, there's plenty there. But to act like the fans are unjustified in hating him when they packed that arena every single night to go see him and he turned his back on them to go play for a team that broke their hearts in a conference finals series is very weird. OKC was one of the loudest places to play during that time.

[hobbes2702 13354]

4 minutes ago, Pam Cummings said:

I agree it's dumb. He's absolutely a Longhorn and has done a lot of good things and represented the university well for the most part. But i'm not going to hold back on valid criticisms just because someone went to the same school i did. That's actual aggie behavior.

Who said we can’t criticize him?

[Mitch Cumsteen 18929]

It’s a fucking thread title. Who gives a shit?  And now everybody is rehashing a 7 year old argument. Great job all the way around. You think he’s going to pop on to surly and be offended? On second thought, that sounds exactly like something he would do.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Mitch Cumsteen

[Braff Zacklin 13675]

On 1/11/2023 at 6:44 PM, shadow_operative said:

yes it was. whooooole bunch of "Longhorns" around here calling him a bitch and a front running piece of shit for joining the Warriors. people literally saying they don't consider him a real longhorn and that he doesn't represent UT, with even more people repping those posts. thread title was 100% accurate, and the bitchassness towards KD around here will not be forgotten. 

KD deserves much of the criticism and skepticism that's been lobbied against him for some of his professional and social media decisions.

But nobody should be questioning his worthiness as a Longhorn. He's been a fantastic ambassador and reps the 'Horns every chance he gets. He's absolutely done more for the university than it ever did--or could have done--for him.

In short, Texas was--and is--lucky to have him around the program. Fifteen years on, he is still relevant and a major draw for young athletes.

[Pam Cummings 9827]

17 minutes ago, Braff Zacklin said:

KD deserves much of the criticism and skepticism that's been lobbied against him for some of his professional and social media decisions.

But nobody should be questioning his worthiness as a Longhorn. He's been a fantastic ambassador and reps the 'Horns every chance he gets. He's absolutely done more for the university than it ever did--or could have done--for him.

In short, Texas was--and is--lucky to have him around the program. Fifteen years on, he is still relevant and a major draw for young athletes.

Absolutely. I'm sorry i derailed the thread by bringing up GS. I honestly can't believe they let Draymond run him out of there. And the achilles tear, along with his return to high-level play, has all of my admiration. He's obviously a tireless worker. It fucking sucks that we can't watch him right now because someone fell into his leg again. He was having an MVP season and the Nets were probably the funnest team to watch when they had it rolling. I want them to make the playoffs and for him to be healthy and for Kyrie to be properly engaged.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Pam Cummings

[statsman 5682]

I’m imagining a scene at the newly renamed “Choctaw Casino Center” (formerly “Paycom Arena”, formerly “Chesapeake Center”, and it could be worse- I expect the Rockets to be playing in the “Buc-ees Center”), as a proud dad points up to the rafters- “See there, son? Russell Westbrook. Mr. Thunder. Now, there was a player”. 
 
“Wow! He was great, wasn’t he? I’m going to study him and do everything I can to play like him!”

“Uh, now, hold on, son. The game has evolved quite a bit. Maybe you should try to work more on shooting, ball movement, court vision, and complementary team defense”. 
 
“You bet, Dad! Has the Thunder ever had a player that was great at that?”

“I feel like getting some concessions. You want some cotton candy?”

[HookEm 2493]

38 minutes ago, Braff Zacklin said:

KD deserves much of the criticism and skepticism that's been lobbied against him for some of his professional and social media decisions.

But nobody should be questioning his worthiness as a Longhorn. He's been a fantastic ambassador and reps the 'Horns every chance he gets. He's absolutely done more for the university than it ever did--or could have done--for him.

In short, Texas was--and is--lucky to have him around the program. Fifteen years on, he is still relevant and a major draw for young athletes.

Yes... but is he one of our own?  SMFH.

The question in the OP has been answered. And fine, maybe it was a valid question at the time. Anyone is free to criticize him and his choices all they want. I don't love everything that he is done. I wish he had gone to Boston.  And I hate he has paired up with morons Kyrie and Ben Simmons.  But only an idiot would question whether he is a Longhorn.  Imagine having a perpetual "Vince Young --- One of our own?" post living on the front page of the football board because he once threw his pads into the stands.

So mods, either let us start a new catch-all Durant thread, with a proper name, or change the name. But it is a disgrace to have this thread, with this title, on the front page of a longhorn basketball board for YEARS. Moreover, it tells any potential high level recruits everything they need to know about our basketball fanbase.

[SilasCoade 2622]

5 hours ago, HookEm said:

Yes... but is he one of our own?  SMFH.

The question in the OP has been answered. And fine, maybe it was a valid question at the time. Anyone is free to criticize him and his choices all they want. I don't love everything that he is done. I wish he had gone to Boston.  And I hate he has paired up with morons Kyrie and Ben Simmons.  But only an idiot would question whether he is a Longhorn.  Imagine having a perpetual "Vince Young --- One of our own?" post living on the front page of the football board because he once threw his pads into the stands.

So mods, either let us start a new catch-all Durant thread, with a proper name, or change the name. But it is a disgrace to have this thread, with this title, on the front page of a longhorn basketball board for YEARS. Moreover, it tells any potential high level recruits everything they need to know about our basketball fanbase.

I can't tell if it's deliberate or not, but you are continuously missing the point. Yes, the thread title is embarrassing -- because it is an indictment of the morons who were legitimately calling it into question. The OP was not among those. The thread title was a call out of those morons, not a call out of KD, and it continues to be so.

[Hate 20232]

Of course KD is a Longhorn legend.  Has he turned into a gigantic cunt over the last 8 or 9 years?  Yes, but he is and will always be a Longhorn legend.

[Baboontyme 2876]

Gotta love KD live Tweeting the Nets Sixers game and trash talking Embiid. Good stuff. 

 

https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/1618433697962950657?s=20&t=_wFrgwdyNCrPRP1Cb6h-dQ

Edited January 26, 2023 by Baboontyme

[LTtxfan 49913]

 

[closetohumping 17785]

Per Windy, some teams are unwilling to speak to the Nets about trades not involving KD because they don't want to increase the chances of him wanting to stay.

[Aqua Buddha 14783]

On 1/14/2023 at 10:49 AM, statsman said:

See? Those (Pam and ChiTown) are amazing takes. 
 
You had a generational talent that tried to embrace the city, who more than anything wanted to play the game the right way. He was giving signs of unhappiness with the team’s direction years in advance (I started a thread in the old site about it, in 2014, pointing out that KD was going to be looking around in 2016 unless OKC got its act together- the OKC fans responded with 1. He will stay because that’s where he gets the most money 2. OKC is his best chance to win a championship 3. If he’s unhappy, why doesn’t he just play better?).  Can you imagine Milwaukee fans in 2019 being that way about Giannis? With them, it was more like “the organization better put the best team it can around Giannis while they can. If this GM can’t do it, we’ll find one that can.”  That’s rational. 
 
Instead, OKC kept rolling out the same lineup, waiting for Russ to mature as a point guard (narrator: “he wouldn’t”), playing that same gawdawful version of basketball of having no more than three shooters ever on the court at the same time, and slowly building resentment against KD for not making it work. No ire at all for Presti. Just KD. 
 
Okies. 

"Getting their act together."  M'kay.  They had a 3-1 lead in the WCF against GS.  They lost Durant, got nothing in return, and won 45 games the following year.  It's not like they were Cleveland in the early Lebron years.    They had a solid roster with some flaws.  Durant could have won a title there, he just didn't.

[statsman 5682]

Yes, they were kind of like the Dallas Cowboys without Durant. Make the playoffs, and be totally uncompetitive in the first round. 

[Aqua Buddha 14783]

7 minutes ago, statsman said:

Yes, they were kind of like the Dallas Cowboys without Durant. Make the playoffs, and be totally uncompetitive in the first round. 

That's every single Finals team.  Take away their star/best player and that's what you have.

[statsman 5682]

It’s hilarious and pathetic all at the same time how much OKC fans resent him. When Westbrook threw the ball to him with seconds on the shot clock, he was supposed to hit a three! Every time! What a bunch of an Erica Salts. 

[statsman 5682]

31 minutes ago, statsman said:

It’s hilarious and pathetic all at the same time how much OKC fans resent him. When Westbrook threw the ball to him with seconds on the shot clock, he was supposed to hit a three! Every time! What a bunch of an Erica Salts. 

Damn autocorrect- “Veruca Salts”

[SilasCoade 2622]

53 minutes ago, Aqua Buddha said:

They had a solid roster with some flaws.  

No they didn't. They had a roster with a bunch of warts that KD covered up. They were barely a playoff team without him.

[ztejas 44114]

1 hour ago, Aqua Buddha said:

"Getting their act together."  M'kay.  They had a 3-1 lead in the WCF against GS.  They lost Durant, got nothing in return, and won 45 games the following year.  It's not like they were Cleveland in the early Lebron years.    They had a solid roster with some flaws.  Durant could have won a title there, he just didn't.

First, go look at that OKC roster in 2016. Who outside of Durant and Westbrook were championship pieces? 

Second - Westbrook used to be really good. He was really good in 2016 and then won MVP in 2017. That's why they won 45 games. Despite that OKC has yet to win a playoff series since Durant left. 

Third - they lost 2 prime seasons due to injury. The other years they made deep runs they finished as the 4th or 5th, 2nd, 2nd or 3rd, and 3rd best team in the league and they were always giving bums like Perk and Andre Roberson significant minutes. In 2011 they were too young to do anything. In 2014 they spotted two games to the Spurs because Ibaka didnt play. Im 2015 Durant missed 55 games and they didn't make the playoffs. The one year they actually had a stacked roster KD and Westbrook were like 23 years old and Harden pissed his pants in the Finals. The ONLY other player in the NBA during that time that would have done more with those OKC teams over that stretch just happens to be one of the two greatest players in NBA history. 

Durant and Westbrook were basically that entire franchise and there is zero debate as to who was the most important player between the two of them. That franchise will probably move cities before they win 48 playoff games in 6 seasons again. 

Edited February 8, 2023 by ztejas

[Guest]

On 1/11/2023 at 8:07 PM, shadow_operative said:

there were people here with degrees from Texas outright stating that KD was not a real Longhorn and that he didn't represent the university. i'll never forget that shit. 

Of course he’s a real Longhorn. He can also be a prickly weirdo, which he is, and people not like how he represents the university because of that. That’s totally reasonable. 

People will always view him as inferior to many players of his generation because of his decision to join the Warriors. That’s just the way it is. 

[statsman 5682]

There is possibly one player of his generation you could argue he is inferior to. And I’m not making that argument. 
 
Also, inarguably, he is the greatest  FIBA player of all time. 

Edited February 9, 2023 by statsman

[statsman 5682]

I read an article about LeBron, how it is important to him to be the GOAT, and how hard he focuses on that. 
 
KD is wired just a little different. He doesn’t thirst to be recognized as the greatest. His greatest appetite is for the game. His biggest flaw as a player is his willingness to play too many minutes, many more than a 35 year old off an Achilles injury should play. 
 
He can’t help it. That’s also why he is so committed to Team USA- if they’re playing elite games in the summer, he’s going to be there, grabbing as much playing time as he can. 
 
The famous visit to Rucker Park- the dude wants to be the best player he can and he wants to play as many games as he can. For him, the saddest day is always after his season is over. 

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, statsman said:

There is possibly one player of his generation you could argue he is inferior to. And I’m not making that argument. 
 
Also, inarguably, he is the greatest  FIBA player of all time. 

I actually think he’s only inferior to LBJ and it’s not by a great deal. He is better than Steph and pretty much everyone else in the league except Kobe early in his career and Kawhi when he was hurt. But his move to GSW will absolutely lower the ranking of a guy that should be a borderline Top 10 player of all time. Instead inferior players will be ranked ahead of him in the eyes of many. Thanks for the neg without understanding. 

Edited February 9, 2023 by Porterhouse

[statsman 5682]

Ok, I removed the neg, but take this as a metaphoric flipping your comment off. 

[Guest]

46 minutes ago, statsman said:

Ok, I removed the neg, but take this as a metaphoric flipping your comment off. 

Reciprocated. And fuck you too. 

[Dutchrudder 11229]

KD's next chapter will be in Phoenix, confirmed by Shams and Woj:
 

 

 

 

[gsoda3 3358]

Wow.

[ztejas 44114]

Instant favorites in the West. 

[gsoda3 3358]

Cam Johnson, bridges, jae, 4 firsts, and a swap. That's cheaper than it sounds.

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

[ztejas 44114]

KD has a chance to validate Chris Paul's entire career. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

if KD gets CP3 a ring then nobody can say shit to KD anymore. this move could define his legacy if he does end up winning a title there. 

[Dutchrudder 11229]

I hope we get a GSW vs Suns First round matchup, that would be incredibly fun as a spectator with no dog in the fight

[ztejas 44114]

3 minutes ago, shadow_operative said:

if KD gets CP3 a ring then nobody can say shit to KD anymore. this move could define his legacy if he does end up winning a title there. 

Can CP stay healthy for more than 11 playoff games? 

Durant and Booker is just insane, though. That's instantly the best duo in the NBA.

 

And holy fucking fuck balls we could get Durant/LeBron in the Western conference semis or some shit.

[shadow_operative 15932]

not exactly on topic,  it everyone here agrees: KD is a better player than Kobe was, yes?