NFL legend Shannon Sharpe and three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas recently boarded Sharpe’s. Sleeping hat Podcast to discuss the upcoming NBA postseason. The duo began the topic of naming the players who have the most to lose or gain in this year’s playoffs, which included big names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
While Arenas stated that players like Zion Williamson and OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will prove a lot just by getting past the First Round of the playoffs, Shannon Sharpe had a different point to add to that note. Sharpe believes Kevin Durant has the ‘more to prove’ if the Suns qualify for the playoffs in the next postseason.
“I think Kevin Durant has a lot to prove again with a championship.” commented the 55-year-old. Sharpe highlighted how the league had constantly scrutinized Durant, especially his move from OKC to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 in search of a championship.
Although KD won two championships with the Dubs, he has not appeared in any NBA Finals since he left the Bay Area franchise.
Meanwhile, the First Take analyst also pointed out how the media has berated KD for not being able to lead his own team to a chip, especially people like Charles Barkley calling him a “bus rider.” “I think he [KD] “He has a lot to gain in this postseason because he hasn’t done well since leaving Golden State.” Sharpe added.
KD currently plays for the Phoenix Suns, having played in Brooklyn after leaving the Dubs in 2019. The Suns with their Big Three of Bradley Beal, KD and Devin Booker were dubbed a Super Team at one point.
So there’s no doubt this is a championship-or-bust season for them, as Sharpe noted.
How has Kevin Durant fared in the playoffs since leaving the Warriors?
Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and immediately won his first career NBA championship in one season. He also won a second championship with Golden State in 2018. However, in 2019, due to growing tensions in the locker room and with the Warriors organization, Durant left the Bay Area and joined the Brooklyn Nets.
Since then, Durant has failed to reach the NBA Finals despite putting up numbers on the stat sheet.
According Muse of statisticsSince leaving the Golden State Warriors, Durant has averaged 30.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 27 playoff games. His playoff record since then has been mediocre, with a record of 13-14. It wasn’t just the NBA Finals; KD couldn’t even reach the conference finals with his teams.
Such a mediocre performance has attracted a lot of trolling and hate towards KD, reminiscent of the days when that negative attention led to his move to the Warriors from OKC. Perhaps Shannon Sharpe’s analysis is quite accurate in this regard, given that KD now has to prove his worth as a leader in these upcoming playoffs.
