Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant was featured in a terrific article by GQ’s Zach Baron, just days after the magazine named him Champion of the Year. Durant talked to Baron about the game-winning shot that he hit over LeBron James in game 3, and what it means to him:
“That was the best moment I ever had,” Durant told me. “I made the game-winning shot in the finals against my fucking idol. Somebody that I really, really, really followed since I was a ninth-grade high schooler. I felt like he was passing the torch to me.”
This is an interesting take from Durant; it feels like Durant has been ubiquitously considered the second-best player in the league for years now. And as we know, Durant hates being no. 2; he was ranked second coming out of high school, and he was drafted second into the NBA. He wants to be the best and always has. Now, perhaps, he feels that he is. He was an unstoppable force in the Finals last year; he averaged 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks per game on .556/.474/.927.
If the torch has been passed, does Durant feel that he’s the best player in the world now? It’d be interesting to hear James’ take on that; I’m not sure he’s quite ready to hand over the torch just yet.
