Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant hit arguably the biggest shot of his career in Game 3 of last year’s NBA Finals. That big three-pointer over LeBron James essentially locked up a championship and is a defining moment for Durant. He called the shot a “passing of the torch” of sorts, and clarified that comment to The Mercury News.
“I saw a lot of people took that out of context: What I’m saying is when somebody passes the torch, they’re letting you in the room,” Durant said. “You got LeBron. You got [Dwyane Wade]. You got [Carmelo Anthony]. You got Paul Pierce. You got Larry Bird. You got Dr. J all in a room. It’s my turn to be in there with them and enjoy being one of the best players in the world. It wasn’t the fact that I took it from LeBron and he’s gone now. Obviously he’s still around.”
Ahead of the antipcated Christmas Day matchup between the Warriors and Cavaliers, the comparisons to James will continue to ring loudly. Durant feels him and James, now, are on the same level.
“Accolades and accomplishments and legacy and all that stuff and how they mean to people, I can’t talk on that,” Durant said. “But as far as basketball skills are concerned? I’m on the same level. I feel like that moment was [LeBron] saying, ‘Welcome.’”
Kevin Durant, fittingly, was named the 2017 NBA Finals MVP. He called the shot over James a defining moment in his career and feels “liberated” after finally stepping up in a big moment. It’s only fair for him to say him and James are on equal footing after the monster NBA Finals he had.
