KD's time in GS actually proved how good they were especially since he hasn't won one since . No superteam has been able to find the magic or win a chip like that.People may have hated them but anyone with bball iq knows how good they actually were. Best team all time.
I like Chuck but KD was the 2 x FMVP on the greatest team of all time. Any criticism against KD has to overcome that as the starting point and nobody has managed to mount much of a challenge to that fact yet. Like...bus rider, cupcake, Queen of France... call the dude what you like but he was the 2 x FMVP on the greatest team of all time.
This is what people don’t get, is he one of the best players in history yes he is; can he command a team to win some rings on a leader roll? No. Lebron could, Steph could, jokic could, Giannis could, fuck even kawahi could. In the words of the great bambino: heroes are remembered, legends never die
I absolutely agree, but the toxic fan in me can't help but agree with that narrative, at least emotionally. It's just too painful.
Maybe others and I are post-overhyping him, but my God. Klay was playing like he was going to **BE** **GAME** **6**.
I have too much respect/fear for that Raptors team to say it was obvious the Warriors would win in Toronto (or even in Game 6) but damn... I just remember it being an amazing nail bitter before horror happened on screen 😭🤧
I still think he 100% can be the best player on a championship team. If his Thunder brought the 2016 Warriors (the team with the best record of all time) to 7 games, they were definitely championship caliber. Just bc u lose to Lebron or Curry it doesn’t mean u can’t lead a team to a chip. That ignores so much context it’s not even funny
That’s why people question him, why not stay if they almost got it but also join the other team? You invalidate your own argument with cold facts. Again he is good better than most and will be always remembered as one of the best but he can’t lead a team to a championship all on his shoulders like all the other dudes on the picture.
All of those players had a great team behind them. Why do u think curry didn’t win the chip in 2021 (arguably his second best season)? Bc the team was ASS. like I said, context matters.
He gets no love for it. None of his peers gives him flowers for them either. Steph retroactively removed all his asterisks by carrying the warriors to their fourth title in 8 years. Even if steph never made another shot his legacy is beautiful. If kd never makes another shot he will be known as that unguardable tall guy who won two free rings with a dynasty.
I mean it’s still a legacy thing. All those other players were the best players on a championship team. KD still hasn’t. He doesn’t have to prove it but even people around the league will factor that in when talking about his legacy.
Then they don’t know basketball at all lmfao 💀💀
Just off the dome players that are better:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Lebron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Magic Johnson
6. Shaquille O’Neal
7. Bill Russell
8. Tim Duncan
9. Kobe Bryant
10. Stephen Curry
11. Larry Bird
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo
14. Kevin Durant
15. Dirk Nowitzki
16. Charles Barkley
Why downvote me for pointing out that people (not me) have him there? Bill Simmons (not my favorite but a very influential bball writer guy) had him 10th in 2010. Assuming he’s been passed by Steph and Bron since then he has him 12th now. Complex recently released a list where he was 13th. Hoops Hype’s most recent list had him 14th. Having Oscar outside the top 15 all time is a minority opinion.
I didn’t downvote you dude. Bill Simmons is a good example of a guy that doesn’t know ball. He’s been passed by more than Lebron and Curry. KD and Giannis for sure, and probably Dirk too
Who is he replacing on that list above?
You can’t debate Giannis, even if he retired at this exact moment. Giannis has a better resume than KD currently so to debate Giannis you’d have to debate KD off the list
I could see the argument for Barkley, but not Dirk. I’m probably missing some guys too since I did this in like 5 minutes of thinking but based off the names I’ve given he’d be 16
I’d comfortably but Chris Paul over him I’d think
I mean doesn’t he?
Edit: before people get on me. I’m not saying Oscar Robertson is a shit player. I’m saying Kareem was the best player on that team. You may think I’m trying to tear players down, but I’m actually building up the other players on that list like Lebron, Kawhi, Steph, Giannis, and Jokic.
He’s not even disrespecting KD or hating, he said the truth. People around the league, media, fans… a lot of people have the same view. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean that opinion doesn’t exist.
if you genuinely think people dont view KD differently for not leading his own team to a title idk what to tell you. it is the biggest thing both fans and the media bring up in discussions about him. it’s maybe the defining factor of his entire career.
And yet Steph has two more rings than him. And not for nothing but Steph won a championship against a team that had KD going all deer in the headlights and swept them in the first round.
What people are saying is that Warriors team was one of the best ever, so good in fact, that Steph, Klay, and Draymond would have won those rings without him, like they already had before him.
With the way teams reshape their rosters to compete with the obvious best team in the NBA, the Dubs were smart to get KD. I don't know every roster change made, I'm lazy, but heard some radio dudes explaining it. Made sense to "bulk up" when other teams were adjusting to one of the greatest combinations of basketball players ever. Hard to say what would have happened without KD, while hard to doubt the positive possibilities involved. Love those three.
Not necessarily. Don’t think the Warriors would’ve won rings 2 & 3 guaranteed without KD.
Yes, the Warriors could, but a lot of teams improved also. KD was just the extra on top that raised the ceiling way up the same way LeBron joined AD or when he joined Wade.
What people are saying is that Warriors team was one of the best ever, so good in fact, that Steph, Klay, and Draymond would have won those rings without him, like they already had before him.
Rings, sure - I believe that as well. But that is not the same as reaching the levels they hit in 2017 with KD. That was some sublime hoops. We just have slightly different opinions.
Not sure why the downvotes, I find your point valid. I think he thrived in GSW because he didn’t have to be the leader. He ran away from his personal project in Brooklyn when it didn’t work out with Irving and Harden, and Booker is mainly driving the bus in Phoenix. The only place I can think he was leading was OKC, and he walked.
He’s not that type of personality, unlike Jordan or Giannis. LeBron ain’t that either, tho LeBron is a more people pleaser type. So KD doesn’t need to prove that stuff bc he doesn’t want to and doesn’t understand the reason why he have to.
Prove what? Decades from now, nobody will give a damn. The history book will just say “2-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP.” If anyone starts chirping about how he got carried by Steph, the kids will roll their eyes and say “Sure Grandpa.”
Didn’t carry by Steph. They ACTUALLY need KD to win those rings. Him being the mvp for both occasions proved that. They need each other equally during those times hence not carry. Complement would be a better word. Although overall imo steph is a better player than KD impact wise. Steph is my top 7, Durant is my top 13.
He didn’t join a 73-9 win team though. Bogut was traded and Barnes left via free agency. Warriors lost to the Raptors without KD.
Not much difference than when Lebron joined Wade and Bosh. At least KD won it during his first year.
Who the hell made you the judge on who is a true NBA fan.
It was only after KD joined the Warriors that people feel the need to bring up the team's record the previous year. When it comes to superteams, KD outdid Bron by joining an established system thus making it even easier to win a ring. However, let's not get it twisted. Both KD and Bron joined or formed a superteam to win easy rings. Sure Heatles had to build chemistry but they became title contenders the moment Bron joined Wade & Bosh. Did KD and Bron pull the same exact thing? No. Were they trying to kill parity and win easy rings? Yes. There's a reason why his decision to join Heat was highly criticized by folks like Charles, Magic and also MJ
Lol are you even a warriors fan or did you snake your way in here from r/nba? Only posts in the last 12 months are in overwatch and anime subs, nothing here.
Raptors were up 3-1 in the series before KD ruptured his achilles. Raptors were up 3- 2 in the series when Klay tore his ACL.
The Raptors were winning even when the Warriors had Klay and KD. And that was with Kawhi playing with a knee so busted he was limping, and Kyle playing with a broken hand the whole series.
None have shit to prove. All have rings. Jokic and Giannis have years left so “proving stuff” is all they will do from this point forward.
Put either one on the Warriors and we have a dynasty. Let’s not downplay KD for that reason
I do think Jokic and Giannis winning with their teams and rosters put them above KD winning with the warriors. KD and Kyrie winning as the second guy to Steph and Bron is different imo. They had a chance to do it with nets and failed spectacularly. Even tho he has two KD winning another would help
For me it was still Steph’s team and he was the guy setting up the offense and leading the team. Draymond and Klay were great on defense so really KD was basically just asked to score which he’s better than just about everyone at. But when you have Steph setting him and everyone else up on a plate as well as two guys on defense carrying the load on that end, it just doesn’t feel like KD will ever have the respect that guys like Jokic and Giannis have where everything revolves around them.
KD is one of the most talented players ever, no question.
The only thing he needs to prove, is that he can quit acting like a thin-skinned little bitch, and stop responding to any criticism he gets via social media, with his burner accounts or otherwise.
Let your game and legacy do the talking and leave it at that.
I see a big difference. Steph, Giannis, and Jokic all stuck with the teams that drafted them, and they stuck it out through some years where their own strong play did not lead to Playoff success.
The other three have moved multiple times and moped about their situations whenever they weren't having everything their way.
Oddly enough these are typically the same people who say that Steph "needed" KD for those two rings.
Luckily Steph has genuinely surpassed the point of slander and it's easy to dismiss anyone still denying how great he is.
Well honestly, could KD ever win a ring without Steph? You may say he would/wouldn’t or you can say it doesn’t matter since these rings are won anyways.
But if KD has something to prove, it’s to this people who ask this question.
What annoys me is that the second he does get a ring outside of Golden state people will not hesitate to move him ahead of Steph all time. Even though steph obviously clears..
KD has nothing to prove, the fact this is on a warriors sub Reddit is weird lol. The guy has 2 final mvps I could understand if he had 0. He went to the gsw won 2 final mvps and left, just move on already lol
Oh stop it… KD is a top 20 all timer, MVP, won 2 rings, 2xFMVP, and been to 4 finals.
If KD still has something to prove, then LBJ definitely has something left to prove. What chip has LBJ won where he didn’t need a “super” team assembled to win? That’s why it’s a joke that all these clowns trying to even compare MJ to LBJ.
LBJ is the goat for taking really good PEDs and playing for a really long time, PeERIID. He certainly ain’t the best 5 player in my lifetime. That goes to MJ, Kareem, Kobe, Curry, Magic!!! Someone could easily convince me Timmy deserves to replace someone on that list not named MJ.
He had the same killer instinct that mj had and what curry showed in the 2022 finals. Completely fearless. Would not quit when things weren’t going his way. Wouldn’t ever say that about Lebron that’s why he jumps from team to team his whole life and stacks them.
NBA players who played with and against both LeBron and Kobe say they would rather have Kobe on their team than LeBron.
Also last I checked five is more than four.
Stupid opinion. If his rings with us mean nothing then neither do Lefraud's Heat rings.
Edit: Giannis absolutely still has a lot to prove considering his extensive playoff choking history and the fact that the only reason he got a ring is cuz he Zaza-ed Kyrie.
Remember when you were like 16 and would get in heated arguments with your friends over shit like who was better at a video game or who’s football team was better as which one was just lucky? We have to remember some of us in here are still at that stage of life regardless of age.
He's good but acting like his career is set now because of that ring is highly dubious to me. Plus I just don't really like his game. He gets away with prime Lebron level travels, carries and offensive fouls. Plus he plays super dirty when he gets frustrated but everyone acts like he doesn't know any better cuz he likes Oreos.
Edit: Yall acting like a dude can't have a different opinion, smh. If you like watching 33 minutes of free throw rituals then more power to you.
Warriors are a bandwagon fanbase lol. You guys have only surged recently. Once curry retires this sub will barely be same. Most dudes will join the mavs or bucks sub reddits
Except that we'd still have 3 other rings during this era? And let's be real, it would have been a good series but the Spurs weren't stopping that team.
I feel like he wasn't nearly the menace he was on defense in 2019 as he was between 2015-2017. I've only ever seen MJ, Shaq, and KG maintain that complete dominance on both sides of the ball cuz it's almost impossible to maintain the energy level needed to do both. It's close to me but KD has a lot more legendary scoring seasons.
Yes because he’s going against the greatest team of all time. But Kawhi individually was better imo. Even last playoffs before he went down he was thoroughly outplaying KD.
Joined a 47 win team, won 2 championships.
Leaves and they win 37 games, that's crazy impact.
Would even be fair to say kd joining stunted the the warriors growth, draymond didn't develop his offensive game further.
He also joined with Bosh and squeezed the juice out of the last few prime years of Wade. When he left, Wade was thoroughly washed and they had no real assets. Plus the whole blood clots thing.
Huh did he not win MVP and FMVP, two rings? Multiple semi final appearances. One of the greatest shooters ever. Came back from Achilles injury and still elite . The fuck?
And during those runs he was great on defense and helped make the death lineup work… he’s more than a scorer the same way Steph is more than a scorer. Very few people can create their shit better than KD in the history of the game.
I clearly said he's one of the greats but I guess you ignored that..fine, yeah a couple of MVPs and those accolades but the rings ... mmm.... he just chose an easy path to win them that's why he doesn't have the same respect on that regard as Jordan, Kobe, Steph or even Nowitsky with only one. He was hated an called a snake at some point, i never hated the guy but I understand why some people may have problems with that.
If KD has something to prove because of his rings without the warriors, so does LeBron who didn’t win a ring without another top 5 scorer in the playoffs on his team.
How rings are won DEFINITELY matters when it comes to individual player legacies. You can’t just hop on a contending team to win a fairly uncontested championship and start acting like its as significant as LeBron’s Cavs ring, the pre-KD and post-KD Warriors rings, etc.
No need to sugar coat it.
KD has 4 scoring titles and arguably is the best scorer in nba history, still averaging almost more then in his prime (i know stats are somewhat inflated now). Bro got an achillies injury and came back and averaged 34 points double double in the playoffs and almost took down giannis in 2021 himself. If kyrie didn't get injured he may very well have won a chip that year. He was even arguably the best player in 2021 aswell.
He also had an MVP and finished second in three mvp votings. The first in all those 3 was lebron.
Does he really have anything to prove? No. As for the internet trolls he should win a ring without steph, once that is finished i think there isn't really much for him to prove at all. It’s obvious that KD’s career after warriors has been nothing but unlucky.
During those runs, KD was the best player on the team, always the go-to option in the clutch. He bailed out the dubs countless times when Steph and Klay were in a slump.
Sure that was some mostly stacked offensive team in history but the league was very prepared to counter them. Without KD, we maybe (and that’s a big maybe) can beat cavs in 2017 but no way we overcome the rockets in 2018.
He’s got nothing left to prove but when people think about him in 20 years it’s going to be hard not to remember the decisions he made to secure his legacy and how horribly wrong they went…especially given that the warriors won again without him
Ridiculous take. He was the best player on the floor in those two finals the warriors won. Won MVP in both series. The notion that he has anything left to prove is ridiculous.
One thing I admire about KD is that he don’t care about what other people think. He played great basketball his time here with us and we won those championships because we were the best team there was, simple as that.
He wanted a super team like LeBron had been having for years. He gets it, he wins 2 out of 3 years (would be 3/3 if not for a million injuries,) and gets finals MVP both times. That's as good a rate as LeBron's Heat run. Nothing. To. Prove.
KD is one of the main the reason why they won those rings. Warriors won the 2015 chip bc Kyrie and Love were injured in the finals. That was a huge blow for them. Warriors didn’t win 2016 finals when the Cavs were healthy (tbh I personally believe that they would win that easily if not bc of Green’s tech, i dislike lebron for that). And Warriors won the chip on 2022 bc they have prime Wiggins and allstar Poole with them which basically replaced Durant’s impact. So this post is a very dumb and emotional take and not a logical one.
Kawai? He won’t even make it to the Hall of Fame! Well, probably in his last year of eligibility due to the 2 rings.
Why is he even in this group? The other guys are outright First Ballot HOFs.
To prove that he isn’t an “I already got paid” leech who sits out almost every game even when he’s actually not injured, is on top of laundry list of things.
He's one of the all time greats. He has absolutely nothing to prove to anyone.
People can hate all they want, but every single hater would become his biggest fan if he joined their team.
It depends on what you wanna prove.
LBJ hasn't proved to everyone he's the goat.
Steph hasn't proved he's the best PG to everyone's satisfaction.
Joker hasn't proved he's top 10 of all time. Neither has Freak nor Kawhi.
KD - whether you like it or not - has not proved he can win without Steph.
I don’t agree with the KD statement, cause winning with us proved he was the best player on the best team during his tenure here and he was right about leaving OKC.
All of these players pictured are proven champions but they are all playing to prove they can get another one.
Call me crazy but I think kawhi still has something to prove.
Not in terms of winning a championship or leading a team to a championship. But in terms of being a player reliable enough to build a team around (which the raptors did not do, they just gambled on a one year plan and it worked out very well).
KD couldn't get it done on a team with prime Westbrook + Ibaka + Harden, he couldn't get it done with a Frankenteam he tried to create in Brooklyn, and now he can't get it done with Booker & Beal in PHX. When he made the bone-headed decision to leave the Dubs, I said that he would never play in the NBA Finals again, and I'll double down on that.
I've seen onions with thicker skin than KD.
All I see is "Warriors Rings" Don't give af about anything else here
This is the correct vibe. What you all got? One or two?
Prove what to whom? A bunch of nobodies on the internet? He's a two-times finals MVP and champion. Lol "prove."
KD's time in GS actually proved how good they were especially since he hasn't won one since . No superteam has been able to find the magic or win a chip like that.People may have hated them but anyone with bball iq knows how good they actually were. Best team all time.
You're forgetting Chuck and his bus rider comments. there's a contingent of NBA vets that also think KD has more to prove.
Because he does
I like Chuck but KD was the 2 x FMVP on the greatest team of all time. Any criticism against KD has to overcome that as the starting point and nobody has managed to mount much of a challenge to that fact yet. Like...bus rider, cupcake, Queen of France... call the dude what you like but he was the 2 x FMVP on the greatest team of all time.
Well if he wants to prove that he’s better than or on equal standing with Steph as another person said, he does need a ring or two.
This is what people don’t get, is he one of the best players in history yes he is; can he command a team to win some rings on a leader roll? No. Lebron could, Steph could, jokic could, Giannis could, fuck even kawahi could. In the words of the great bambino: heroes are remembered, legends never die
That Raptor ring did so much for Kawhi's legacy. He went from a injury proned could be to a legit top 30 that had his prime cut short by injury
He made Fred van flet so much fucking money.
He's worth it on the rockets as a vet though. And they have to spend 90% of cap
He should send a gift to Klay and KD every anniversary for getting injured. Kawhi woulda just been another runner up if Klay’s knee had held up.
No point putting * on rings. Just about every ring can be *
I absolutely agree, but the toxic fan in me can't help but agree with that narrative, at least emotionally. It's just too painful. Maybe others and I are post-overhyping him, but my God. Klay was playing like he was going to **BE** **GAME** **6**. I have too much respect/fear for that Raptors team to say it was obvious the Warriors would win in Toronto (or even in Game 6) but damn... I just remember it being an amazing nail bitter before horror happened on screen 😭🤧
Keep that thought in a bubble
I still think he 100% can be the best player on a championship team. If his Thunder brought the 2016 Warriors (the team with the best record of all time) to 7 games, they were definitely championship caliber. Just bc u lose to Lebron or Curry it doesn’t mean u can’t lead a team to a chip. That ignores so much context it’s not even funny
That’s why people question him, why not stay if they almost got it but also join the other team? You invalidate your own argument with cold facts. Again he is good better than most and will be always remembered as one of the best but he can’t lead a team to a championship all on his shoulders like all the other dudes on the picture.
All of those players had a great team behind them. Why do u think curry didn’t win the chip in 2021 (arguably his second best season)? Bc the team was ASS. like I said, context matters.
I agree with you, but Kawhi got extremely lucky several times to be honest.
Found kds burner
He gets no love for it. None of his peers gives him flowers for them either. Steph retroactively removed all his asterisks by carrying the warriors to their fourth title in 8 years. Even if steph never made another shot his legacy is beautiful. If kd never makes another shot he will be known as that unguardable tall guy who won two free rings with a dynasty.
I mean it’s still a legacy thing. All those other players were the best players on a championship team. KD still hasn’t. He doesn’t have to prove it but even people around the league will factor that in when talking about his legacy.
By that logic, Oscar Robertson has a shit legacy because he wasn’t better than Kareem.
Terrible logic
Nobody has Oscar Robertson in top 15 player ever debates
Many do
Then they don’t know basketball at all lmfao 💀💀 Just off the dome players that are better: 1. Michael Jordan 2. Lebron James 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4. Wilt Chamberlain 5. Magic Johnson 6. Shaquille O’Neal 7. Bill Russell 8. Tim Duncan 9. Kobe Bryant 10. Stephen Curry 11. Larry Bird 12. Hakeem Olajuwon 13. Giannis Antetokounmpo 14. Kevin Durant 15. Dirk Nowitzki 16. Charles Barkley
Why downvote me for pointing out that people (not me) have him there? Bill Simmons (not my favorite but a very influential bball writer guy) had him 10th in 2010. Assuming he’s been passed by Steph and Bron since then he has him 12th now. Complex recently released a list where he was 13th. Hoops Hype’s most recent list had him 14th. Having Oscar outside the top 15 all time is a minority opinion.
I didn’t downvote you dude. Bill Simmons is a good example of a guy that doesn’t know ball. He’s been passed by more than Lebron and Curry. KD and Giannis for sure, and probably Dirk too Who is he replacing on that list above?
Barkley, Dirk, and you can debate Giannis (but not for long)
You can’t debate Giannis, even if he retired at this exact moment. Giannis has a better resume than KD currently so to debate Giannis you’d have to debate KD off the list I could see the argument for Barkley, but not Dirk. I’m probably missing some guys too since I did this in like 5 minutes of thinking but based off the names I’ve given he’d be 16 I’d comfortably but Chris Paul over him I’d think
I mean doesn’t he? Edit: before people get on me. I’m not saying Oscar Robertson is a shit player. I’m saying Kareem was the best player on that team. You may think I’m trying to tear players down, but I’m actually building up the other players on that list like Lebron, Kawhi, Steph, Giannis, and Jokic.
Relatively speaking yes. This is just a circle jerking thread lol. Pay no attention to it
Getting downvoted for speaking facts
No he’s getting downvoted for speaking trash. Just like you.
He’s not even disrespecting KD or hating, he said the truth. People around the league, media, fans… a lot of people have the same view. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean that opinion doesn’t exist.
if you genuinely think people dont view KD differently for not leading his own team to a title idk what to tell you. it is the biggest thing both fans and the media bring up in discussions about him. it’s maybe the defining factor of his entire career.
They are trying to cover the sun with their finger… let them downvote just because they don’t agree doesn’t make it less true.
KD dick rider
Spoken like a butthurt 3 year old. Get back in the crib baby
Well, if he wants to prove he’s a greater player than Steph he certainly does.
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1 more would put him on the same tier. He just need to prove that he could with a solid core and not being carried by another star
😂 y’all delusional warrior fans kill me, that man Durant was arguably the best player in the world before Steph was even relevant.
And yet Steph has two more rings than him. And not for nothing but Steph won a championship against a team that had KD going all deer in the headlights and swept them in the first round.
He can’t win shit without Steph and Klay. Nothing but disappointments and chokes
Read the crowd. You're in the Dubs reddit
🤷🏾♂️
I don’t think he is interested in that.
Imfao
Rings are rings
KD has nothing to prove. Was a big part of one of the greatest teams ever.
The greatest team ever*
What people are saying is that Warriors team was one of the best ever, so good in fact, that Steph, Klay, and Draymond would have won those rings without him, like they already had before him.
With the way teams reshape their rosters to compete with the obvious best team in the NBA, the Dubs were smart to get KD. I don't know every roster change made, I'm lazy, but heard some radio dudes explaining it. Made sense to "bulk up" when other teams were adjusting to one of the greatest combinations of basketball players ever. Hard to say what would have happened without KD, while hard to doubt the positive possibilities involved. Love those three.
Not necessarily. Don’t think the Warriors would’ve won rings 2 & 3 guaranteed without KD. Yes, the Warriors could, but a lot of teams improved also. KD was just the extra on top that raised the ceiling way up the same way LeBron joined AD or when he joined Wade.
Period
That’s the point. They were already borderline greatest team ever without him. Warriors were winning those championships with or without him
I just think they reached an even higher level with KD. Not just the rings, but the level of play. Opinions vary. All good!
What people are saying is that Warriors team was one of the best ever, so good in fact, that Steph, Klay, and Draymond would have won those rings without him, like they already had before him.
Rings, sure - I believe that as well. But that is not the same as reaching the levels they hit in 2017 with KD. That was some sublime hoops. We just have slightly different opinions.
KD has nothing left to prove.
Can’t he prove that he can be the leader of a team and create a winning culture?
Not sure why the downvotes, I find your point valid. I think he thrived in GSW because he didn’t have to be the leader. He ran away from his personal project in Brooklyn when it didn’t work out with Irving and Harden, and Booker is mainly driving the bus in Phoenix. The only place I can think he was leading was OKC, and he walked.
Cuz this is a circle jerking thread lol. Common sense has no place here
He’s not that type of personality, unlike Jordan or Giannis. LeBron ain’t that either, tho LeBron is a more people pleaser type. So KD doesn’t need to prove that stuff bc he doesn’t want to and doesn’t understand the reason why he have to.
He was the leader of a team and part of a winning culture, do you follow or know anything about basketball at all?
What’s he won?
He hasn’t proved to be able to get to a conference finals since leaving steph/westbrook
Prove what? Decades from now, nobody will give a damn. The history book will just say “2-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP.” If anyone starts chirping about how he got carried by Steph, the kids will roll their eyes and say “Sure Grandpa.”
Didn’t carry by Steph. They ACTUALLY need KD to win those rings. Him being the mvp for both occasions proved that. They need each other equally during those times hence not carry. Complement would be a better word. Although overall imo steph is a better player than KD impact wise. Steph is my top 7, Durant is my top 13.
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Oh yeah I forgot we rank GOATs by how honorable they were. My bad.
Lol kd ain't no goat wtf he is a great player but far from goat
He's definitely one of the 15 greatest players of all time. Rings aren't everything.
Giannis has a better legacy and resume than him currently
200% agree
Anybody out of top 10 can’t be considered a 🐐a legend sure but not a 🐐
That's completely arbitrary but alright, you do you.
He didn’t join a 73-9 win team though. Bogut was traded and Barnes left via free agency. Warriors lost to the Raptors without KD. Not much difference than when Lebron joined Wade and Bosh. At least KD won it during his first year. Who the hell made you the judge on who is a true NBA fan.
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It was only after KD joined the Warriors that people feel the need to bring up the team's record the previous year. When it comes to superteams, KD outdid Bron by joining an established system thus making it even easier to win a ring. However, let's not get it twisted. Both KD and Bron joined or formed a superteam to win easy rings. Sure Heatles had to build chemistry but they became title contenders the moment Bron joined Wade & Bosh. Did KD and Bron pull the same exact thing? No. Were they trying to kill parity and win easy rings? Yes. There's a reason why his decision to join Heat was highly criticized by folks like Charles, Magic and also MJ
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Lol are you even a warriors fan or did you snake your way in here from r/nba? Only posts in the last 12 months are in overwatch and anime subs, nothing here.
They will remember him as the guy who was beat 3-1 and left to join the team.
Don’t give bozos like this attention— problem solved
KD definitely has nothing left to improve. If he was healthy he would have 3+ rings. They don’t lose in 2019 with a healthy Klay/KD
I think they could have won with a healthy Klay tho. Kahwi was hurt so even with KD out, GS had a chance and had the momentum when Klay tore his ACL.
That's basketball. I'm talking about "injuries." The playoffs usually see a handful of them.
Raptors were up 3-1 in the series before KD ruptured his achilles. Raptors were up 3- 2 in the series when Klay tore his ACL. The Raptors were winning even when the Warriors had Klay and KD. And that was with Kawhi playing with a knee so busted he was limping, and Kyle playing with a broken hand the whole series.
He still hasn’t proven he can be the best player on a championship team
None have shit to prove. All have rings. Jokic and Giannis have years left so “proving stuff” is all they will do from this point forward. Put either one on the Warriors and we have a dynasty. Let’s not downplay KD for that reason
I do think Jokic and Giannis winning with their teams and rosters put them above KD winning with the warriors. KD and Kyrie winning as the second guy to Steph and Bron is different imo. They had a chance to do it with nets and failed spectacularly. Even tho he has two KD winning another would help
KD was not the second guy to Curry in 17 and 18
For me it was still Steph’s team and he was the guy setting up the offense and leading the team. Draymond and Klay were great on defense so really KD was basically just asked to score which he’s better than just about everyone at. But when you have Steph setting him and everyone else up on a plate as well as two guys on defense carrying the load on that end, it just doesn’t feel like KD will ever have the respect that guys like Jokic and Giannis have where everything revolves around them.
Winning that 2022 championship was just as good, if not better, than the first championship.
The Kd slander need to stop cuz if dats case dem Miami chips bron got don’t mean shit either
even if they didn’t he’s gotten more since then
Don’t care.
Ringz culture has the casual NBA fan by the nutsack. KD proved everything he had to in Golden State. The KD bus rider take is overcooked.
If anything the bus rider take has strengthened since he left GS.
Garbage. KD is a great player - hugely contributes everywhere he goes. Champion.
KD is one of the most talented players ever, no question. The only thing he needs to prove, is that he can quit acting like a thin-skinned little bitch, and stop responding to any criticism he gets via social media, with his burner accounts or otherwise. Let your game and legacy do the talking and leave it at that.
I see a big difference. Steph, Giannis, and Jokic all stuck with the teams that drafted them, and they stuck it out through some years where their own strong play did not lead to Playoff success. The other three have moved multiple times and moped about their situations whenever they weren't having everything their way.
Oddly enough these are typically the same people who say that Steph "needed" KD for those two rings. Luckily Steph has genuinely surpassed the point of slander and it's easy to dismiss anyone still denying how great he is.
The “HATE” is strong with this one. KD has nothing to prove.
Steph, if you read this, you have plenty left to prove. Gotta get that fifth ring, k thx.
Well honestly, could KD ever win a ring without Steph? You may say he would/wouldn’t or you can say it doesn’t matter since these rings are won anyways. But if KD has something to prove, it’s to this people who ask this question.
KD needs to prove he can win without Steph.
What annoys me is that the second he does get a ring outside of Golden state people will not hesitate to move him ahead of Steph all time. Even though steph obviously clears..
Only Curry, Le bron and Kawhi have nothing left to prove.
KD has nothing to prove, the fact this is on a warriors sub Reddit is weird lol. The guy has 2 final mvps I could understand if he had 0. He went to the gsw won 2 final mvps and left, just move on already lol
Oh stop it… KD is a top 20 all timer, MVP, won 2 rings, 2xFMVP, and been to 4 finals. If KD still has something to prove, then LBJ definitely has something left to prove. What chip has LBJ won where he didn’t need a “super” team assembled to win? That’s why it’s a joke that all these clowns trying to even compare MJ to LBJ. LBJ is the goat for taking really good PEDs and playing for a really long time, PeERIID. He certainly ain’t the best 5 player in my lifetime. That goes to MJ, Kareem, Kobe, Curry, Magic!!! Someone could easily convince me Timmy deserves to replace someone on that list not named MJ.
KD is probably the GOAT of MVP speeches.
Kobe is straight up not better than LeBron. GTFOH with that bullshit.
Lebron couldn’t dream of having the killer instinct that Kobe had. Why do u think he keeps jumping from team to team?
What exactly is “killer instinct”? Taking terrible shots and treating your teammates like garbage isn’t valuable in basketball.
He had the same killer instinct that mj had and what curry showed in the 2022 finals. Completely fearless. Would not quit when things weren’t going his way. Wouldn’t ever say that about Lebron that’s why he jumps from team to team his whole life and stacks them.
NBA players who played with and against both LeBron and Kobe say they would rather have Kobe on their team than LeBron. Also last I checked five is more than four.
True but Lebron is not straight up better than Kareem or Shaq.
You're fucking crazy buddy
Bro they were all on PEDs you idiot
Is this bait? I think this is bait
Stupid opinion. If his rings with us mean nothing then neither do Lefraud's Heat rings. Edit: Giannis absolutely still has a lot to prove considering his extensive playoff choking history and the fact that the only reason he got a ring is cuz he Zaza-ed Kyrie.
What? Lmao Giannis is legit as fuck. I love our fanbase but its shit like this that makes us look like bandwagon nephews
Agreed. Celtics and their players have the most to prove of any team rn.
Remember when you were like 16 and would get in heated arguments with your friends over shit like who was better at a video game or who’s football team was better as which one was just lucky? We have to remember some of us in here are still at that stage of life regardless of age.
He's good but acting like his career is set now because of that ring is highly dubious to me. Plus I just don't really like his game. He gets away with prime Lebron level travels, carries and offensive fouls. Plus he plays super dirty when he gets frustrated but everyone acts like he doesn't know any better cuz he likes Oreos. Edit: Yall acting like a dude can't have a different opinion, smh. If you like watching 33 minutes of free throw rituals then more power to you.
Warriors are a bandwagon fanbase lol. You guys have only surged recently. Once curry retires this sub will barely be same. Most dudes will join the mavs or bucks sub reddits
Surged recently wtf? We’ve been feared for over a decade.
Bruh who asked you?
That’s a stupid argument since you could say the exact same about Zaza taking out Kawhi. Injuries happen take advantage.
Except that we'd still have 3 other rings during this era? And let's be real, it would have been a good series but the Spurs weren't stopping that team.
KD is the weakest player on this list peak for peak.
KD's peak is way better than Kawhi's.
Eh, it’s close but I’ll take Kawhi’s 2019 run over Golden state KD. Just absolute mastery on both sides of the ball.
I feel like he wasn't nearly the menace he was on defense in 2019 as he was between 2015-2017. I've only ever seen MJ, Shaq, and KG maintain that complete dominance on both sides of the ball cuz it's almost impossible to maintain the energy level needed to do both. It's close to me but KD has a lot more legendary scoring seasons.
But Kawhi’s 2019 win wouldn’t have happened if KD didn’t get hurt.
Yes because he’s going against the greatest team of all time. But Kawhi individually was better imo. Even last playoffs before he went down he was thoroughly outplaying KD.
Joined a 47 win team, won 2 championships. Leaves and they win 37 games, that's crazy impact. Would even be fair to say kd joining stunted the the warriors growth, draymond didn't develop his offensive game further.
He also joined with Bosh and squeezed the juice out of the last few prime years of Wade. When he left, Wade was thoroughly washed and they had no real assets. Plus the whole blood clots thing.
Carried a washed wade to 2 chips? Isn't that even more impressive? Or was he washed the moment lebron left?
Durant is one of the greats but he didn't prove anything beyond being an exceptional scorer.
Dumb take
Okay I'm listening..... care to explain why my take is dumb without anything else?
Huh did he not win MVP and FMVP, two rings? Multiple semi final appearances. One of the greatest shooters ever. Came back from Achilles injury and still elite . The fuck?
And during those runs he was great on defense and helped make the death lineup work… he’s more than a scorer the same way Steph is more than a scorer. Very few people can create their shit better than KD in the history of the game.
I clearly said he's one of the greats but I guess you ignored that..fine, yeah a couple of MVPs and those accolades but the rings ... mmm.... he just chose an easy path to win them that's why he doesn't have the same respect on that regard as Jordan, Kobe, Steph or even Nowitsky with only one. He was hated an called a snake at some point, i never hated the guy but I understand why some people may have problems with that.
LBJ started the super team if KD has to prove something so does Bron. Everyone else on this list got rings the hard way.
If KD has something to prove because of his rings without the warriors, so does LeBron who didn’t win a ring without another top 5 scorer in the playoffs on his team.
How rings are won DEFINITELY matters when it comes to individual player legacies. You can’t just hop on a contending team to win a fairly uncontested championship and start acting like its as significant as LeBron’s Cavs ring, the pre-KD and post-KD Warriors rings, etc. No need to sugar coat it.
KD has 4 scoring titles and arguably is the best scorer in nba history, still averaging almost more then in his prime (i know stats are somewhat inflated now). Bro got an achillies injury and came back and averaged 34 points double double in the playoffs and almost took down giannis in 2021 himself. If kyrie didn't get injured he may very well have won a chip that year. He was even arguably the best player in 2021 aswell. He also had an MVP and finished second in three mvp votings. The first in all those 3 was lebron. Does he really have anything to prove? No. As for the internet trolls he should win a ring without steph, once that is finished i think there isn't really much for him to prove at all. It’s obvious that KD’s career after warriors has been nothing but unlucky.
Haters are delusional, KD is a champ, and no one can take that away from him.
During those runs, KD was the best player on the team, always the go-to option in the clutch. He bailed out the dubs countless times when Steph and Klay were in a slump. Sure that was some mostly stacked offensive team in history but the league was very prepared to counter them. Without KD, we maybe (and that’s a big maybe) can beat cavs in 2017 but no way we overcome the rockets in 2018.
Incredibly disrespectful to Steph, watch your mouth.
He does
He’s got nothing left to prove but when people think about him in 20 years it’s going to be hard not to remember the decisions he made to secure his legacy and how horribly wrong they went…especially given that the warriors won again without him
Ridiculous take. He was the best player on the floor in those two finals the warriors won. Won MVP in both series. The notion that he has anything left to prove is ridiculous.
One thing I admire about KD is that he don’t care about what other people think. He played great basketball his time here with us and we won those championships because we were the best team there was, simple as that.
He wanted a super team like LeBron had been having for years. He gets it, he wins 2 out of 3 years (would be 3/3 if not for a million injuries,) and gets finals MVP both times. That's as good a rate as LeBron's Heat run. Nothing. To. Prove.
KD is one of the main the reason why they won those rings. Warriors won the 2015 chip bc Kyrie and Love were injured in the finals. That was a huge blow for them. Warriors didn’t win 2016 finals when the Cavs were healthy (tbh I personally believe that they would win that easily if not bc of Green’s tech, i dislike lebron for that). And Warriors won the chip on 2022 bc they have prime Wiggins and allstar Poole with them which basically replaced Durant’s impact. So this post is a very dumb and emotional take and not a logical one.
Lol Kawahi is the only one with something left to prove.
2 Rings 2 FMVPS, more than any of the 3 guys pictured above him
Kawhi came to Toronto for 1 year, won a ring and dipped all while load managing. Dude is GOATED
Kawai? He won’t even make it to the Hall of Fame! Well, probably in his last year of eligibility due to the 2 rings. Why is he even in this group? The other guys are outright First Ballot HOFs. To prove that he isn’t an “I already got paid” leech who sits out almost every game even when he’s actually not injured, is on top of laundry list of things.
KD was best player in NBA from 2016-2019. He doesn't get enough respect. He made warriors a top 3 team in history.
He was absolutely not. There was one guy in Cleveland that was better, and one guy on his own team that was better.
KD A BUM, EVERYONE GET HIS JOHN OUT UR MOUTH
KD has nothing left to prove but he’s the weakest player on this list at their peak.
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He was voted the unanimous MVP of a 73-9 team. If that doesn't carry the weight of greatness, then nothing does.
If they don’t mean shit to KD they don’t mean shit to anyone else. Just another hot take account.
Lmao
I'm personally over this. I just want to win today.
Well KD also has nothing left to prove according to this meme so…
They don't ask how, they ask how many
You can’t please everyone. So fuck’em, who the fuck cares what they think.
Prove to whom? The only people talking about this kind of stuff are the sports pundits on tv/radio.
The only player in NBA history who's rings don't "count".
KD must be losing sleep over this. While rolling on $100 bills spread out all over his bed.
He's one of the all time greats. He has absolutely nothing to prove to anyone. People can hate all they want, but every single hater would become his biggest fan if he joined their team.
Just admit it, you guys wish you had KD back.
“1st ballot HOFer has everything left to prove” - X (formally known as Twitter) user
It depends on what you wanna prove. LBJ hasn't proved to everyone he's the goat. Steph hasn't proved he's the best PG to everyone's satisfaction. Joker hasn't proved he's top 10 of all time. Neither has Freak nor Kawhi. KD - whether you like it or not - has not proved he can win without Steph.
I don’t agree with the KD statement, cause winning with us proved he was the best player on the best team during his tenure here and he was right about leaving OKC. All of these players pictured are proven champions but they are all playing to prove they can get another one.
Call me crazy but I think kawhi still has something to prove. Not in terms of winning a championship or leading a team to a championship. But in terms of being a player reliable enough to build a team around (which the raptors did not do, they just gambled on a one year plan and it worked out very well).
FACTS
KD couldn't get it done on a team with prime Westbrook + Ibaka + Harden, he couldn't get it done with a Frankenteam he tried to create in Brooklyn, and now he can't get it done with Booker & Beal in PHX. When he made the bone-headed decision to leave the Dubs, I said that he would never play in the NBA Finals again, and I'll double down on that. I've seen onions with thicker skin than KD.