Kevin Durant plays for the Cavs on NBA2K19
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant decided to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers on NBA2K19.
In an Instagram video posted by Ronnie Singh (better known as Ronnie 2K), the digital marketing director for NBA 2K, Golden State Warriors superstar forward Kevin Durant decided to play as the Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA2K19.
Well, to be more precise, to play for the Cavs.
“I’m on the Cavs,” Durant says. “There’s a spot open at the small forward position.”
While a lighthearted joke, it may still be too early for Cavs fans to throw salt on their wounds.
Not only is Durant — whose Warriors have defeated the Cavs in the last two NBA Finals — been absurdly dominant against Cleveland in their championship series’, LeBron James decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers less than three months ago.
It’s not the first time LeBron left, as many know. It certainly wasn’t as devastating as the decision he made in 2010 either, since he’s fairly close to the end of his prime rather than smack dab in the middle of it.
However, it seemed to be more emotional than the first time.
Perhaps because the community had come to understand LeBron the person in his last four years in Cleveland ways that they had not in his first seven years with the team.
Perhaps the fanbase had grown accustomed to being perennial championship-contenders and knew that even if the Cavs were to become championship-contenders again, it likely wouldn’t happen for a few seasons.
More than likely, it’s largely to do with LeBron making good on his promise to deliver a championship to Northeast Ohio in 2016. That Finals trophy wasn’t just the first championship in franchise history but ended a 52-year title drought for Cleveland’s professional sports teams.
His last stint in Cleveland was much like a love letter to the city, his passion illuminated by his play.
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All that said, if Durant ever really wanted to play for the Cavs, it would be interesting.
It seems completely unrealistic but because nothing is truly out of the realm of possibility with Durant, you have to wonder.
How does a fan base react to arguably the second-best player in the NBA joining the team and reigniting their championship hopes when that player is Durant?
To fans, he’s one of the least likable players after he left Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Warriors in 2016, a team the Thunder nearly defeated in the 2016 Western Conference Finals.
A move he made while everyone else, particularly Westbrook per ESPN’s Royce Young, was under the impression he was remaining with the Thunder.
That, along with his all-time great performances against the Cavs in the 2017 NBA Finals and 2018 NBA Finals, is a reason to believe his decision to sign in Cleveland wouldn’t be well-received.
Then again, because his departure could lead to the dismantling of the Warriors dynasty, he could get one of the warmest welcomes possible.
The Warriors have been a source of constant heartache for the Cavs over the last four seasons and not having a feeling like their team is fighting a losing battle from Day 1 could make fans ecstatic.
One fact that’s undeniable is that Durant replacing LeBron in Cleveland after the Cavs have lost to Durant’s Warriors in the Finals for two straight seasons would be awkward. Animosity would need to be transformed into affinity.
At least Durant hasn’t been disrespectful towards Cleveland or the team though, like teammate Draymond Green or former Cav Isaiah Thomas.
That’s what would make him truly undesirable to Cavs fans (and his hypothetical future teammates).