Should Golden State Honor Kevin Durant?

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Kevin Durant made headlines at the tail end of March after he gave a full and frank interview to Logan Murdock of the Ringer. In it, he talked candidly about his departure from the Golden State Warriors in 2019, as well as his legacy at the franchise and, most pointedly, how he expects the team to honor his time there by retiring his jersey number.

The statement has provoked something of a furor in the mainstream media and among the Golden State fanbase, with pundits and legends alike weighing in with their opinions. So who is right? Should Durant’s time with the Warriors be recognized officially by retiring his jersey? We take a look at both sides of the argument below.

The case for Durant

Whatever you think about Durant’s public plea to be venerated by his previous teams, there’s no doubting that he will finish his career as one of the top 20 basketball players to ever grace a court. For some people, he might even crack the top 10.

Although his time at Golden State was short, he completed their all-star lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green and meant that all odds on any basketball in-play betting website pointed in one direction when picking an NBA champion – the Warriors. In two of his three years, he won the sport’s top accolade with the Warriors, picking up two Finals MVP awards as well. There’s an argument to be made that he only missed out on a 100% record with Golden State due to rupturing an ACL in the third final he made in 2019.

Those impressive stats are enough for other legends of Golden State to voice their support for Durant. Green, who still plays for the franchise, would commemorate the jersey in a heartbeat, while one player who has already been honored in such a way – Chris Mullin – has said he “100%” believes Durant is worthy of the act.

The case against Durant

On the other hand, there are those who believe that the fact Durant only spent three years at Golden State – and left on less than friendly terms – precludes the possibility that he should have his number retired. Such an act would only cheapen the idea of honoring a player in that fashion, goes the argument, and Durant is still playing, too. Retiring the jersey now goes against the grain of tradition and sets a concerning precedent.

Perhaps most powerfully of all, the opponents of Durant’s request point out that retiring a jersey is supposed to symbolize the connection between a player and a franchise. For all that Durant brought to the Warriors and for all he helped them win two titles, he never forged the same connection with the team or with the city as Stephen Curry. Still, in situ, Curry is undoubtedly Golden State’s talisman, before, during, and after Durant’s time with the team.

Therefore, it seems illogical to honor Durant in such a manner when Curry has not yet received that treatment. Other candidates such as Green and Thompson are also arguably as (if not more) deserving of the homage.

Whether or not you agree that Durant should have his jersey retired by Golden State (or Oklahoma, for that matter), his interview has sure opened up a can of worms that it’s highly entertaining to watch wriggle around on the back pages of mass media.