Skip to main content

A Product of Us: Thoughts on Durant Trade


I said back in July when Kevin Durant rocked the NBA world with his trade request, that he "showed us who he was". 

It wasn't a negative comment, but one that encompasses his entire career being a product of our current sport climate - success and focus on legacy. We emphasize the value of a career on rings, and thus, Durant has too. Why wouldn't he?! 

Upon waking up and realizing that Durant will don the purple and orange for the Phoenix Suns in what is clearly now a team to watch come the NBA Playoffs, I find myself further pondering if Kevin Durant is the prime result of what we - yes, us! - have done to the modern athlete. 

Today, Durant is one of the greatest basketball players I've ever seen. EVER. The dude is rare. He's a seven-foot magician which makes defending him even more difficult based on how damn efficient he is on the basketball court. It's downright poetic and beautiful to watch Durant play. And yes, I'm romanticizing his game. I believe in Durant that much. 

But then, I think about a guy who still has to carry - what has turned into a curse - the narrative of only winning once he piggybacked someone else's championship legacy. 

I think about this superstar, who was given it all in Brooklyn, and failed - yes, failed. 

I think about his career and how it is becoming a growing narrative (almost steeped in fact) that he runs from the career adversity that we've come to love and adore from some of our all-time greats - no matter which sport. 

I think about Kevin Durant, who may finish up his career with us wondering if the first place he played, Oklahoma City, is the site of his biggest impact. 

I think about in this era of "the ring" and the constant media and fan scrutiny, how guys like Damian Lillard actually may have the most authentic legacy equity, even without winning it all. Am I crazy for saying that? 

Durant is the ultimate product of us. He wants to hoop and win. No matter what. He'll run toward wherever that gives him the chance to do so. That's all. That's how we've come to keep score. 

Yet, it still feels like there should be more. 
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

The Pondering 10 - Yankees All-Decade Team for 2010s

I thought I would stay away from the "all-decade" shenanigans, but I got suckered in after all. Around here, end of year rankings, reviews, and reflections rule, so why not compose a list that embodies it all? And why not put together a list around my beloved Yankees? Especially in a decade in which they DID NOT win the World Series. Gasp! With all of that said, please see below not only my list of the Yankees All-Decade Team (because everyone can filter by position), but also by importance and contribution throughout the decade.
Read more

TNA Lockdown 2026 Review: "Sign me up for more Order 4 drama"

Lockdown turned into a really fun show for me. And that always was the case when the event was a normal thing. It's had its historic clunkiness (electric cage match anyone?), but that's pro wrestling, baby! But seriously, Lockdown didn't feel like much until the last few weeks. Maybe it was the creative change, but the show came about with a strong undercard over several weeks carried (in my opinion) by Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch and Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater. The main event felt more so on name value than storyline, but that didn't carry too much through the night.  For me, the main event of this was always Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch, and that did not disappoint.   --- Random Tidbits Lots of "cage" talk going into this one, and quite honestly, it was warranted. TNA went years - YEARS! - without a cage match, likely for budgeting and logistical reasons. We saw a really rough-looking cage before TNA gave us an updated version that also served as a nod ...
Read more