When Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2016, he transformed an already formidable team into an unstoppable juggernaut, leaving teams like the Houston Rockets—and the rest of the NBA—scrambling to keep up. The Warriors’ Hall of Fame trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green became a superteam with Durant’s arrival, securing back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. But NBA legend Isiah Thomas, speaking on The Draymond Green Show, argues that Durant’s move saved the Warriors from being remembered as the team that choked a 3-1 Finals lead in 2016. Is Thomas right, or does the Warriors’ pre- and post-Durant success tell a different story? Let’s unpack this pivotal moment in NBA history, analyze its impact, and spark a debate—did Durant truly save Golden State’s legacy?
Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016 reshaped the NBA landscape, creating a dynasty that dominated the league. However, Isiah Thomas’s claim that Durant “saved” the Warriors’ legacy by erasing the stain of their 2016 Finals collapse has sparked heated debate. Let’s explore the context of Durant’s signing, the Warriors’ 2016 choke, the Houston Rockets’ futile attempts to counter, and the broader implications for Golden State’s legacy.
The 2016 Finals Collapse: A Historic Choke
In the 2015-16 season, the Warriors set an NBA record with a 73-9 regular-season mark, cementing their status as one of the greatest teams ever. Led by Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP campaign (30.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 40.2% from three), Klay Thompson’s sharpshooting (22.1 points, 42.5% from three), and Draymond Green’s defensive versatility (7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks), Golden State seemed destined for a second straight title. They took a commanding 3-1 lead over LeBron James and Kyrie Irving’s Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, only to suffer a stunning collapse. Cleveland won three straight games, with James (41.0 points per game in Games 5-7) and Irving (27.1 points per game) going “supernova,” as noted in reports.
Draymond Green’s suspension in Game 5, triggered by a cheap shot to LeBron James, shifted the series’ momentum. Green’s absence—coupled with his history of controversial plays, as one X user put it, “Draymond’s always playing below the belt”—allowed Cleveland to exploit Golden State’s defense. The Warriors’ collapse, losing a 3-1 lead, marked one of the biggest choke jobs in NBA history, with Cleveland securing their first-ever championship. An X post captured the sentiment: “73-9 and no ring? That’s a legacy killer without Durant.” Isiah Thomas echoed this on The Draymond Green Show, stating, “Y’all were on the verge of being remembered as the team that went 73-9 and lost to a Cleveland Cavaliers team in the Finals up 3-1 and probably one of the biggest collapses in NBA Finals history.”
Durant’s Arrival: From Chokers to Champions
Kevin Durant’s free-agency move to Golden State in 2016 transformed the team into a superteam. Joining Curry, Thompson, and Green, Durant added elite scoring (25.1 points per game in 2016-17, 52.0% FG, 37.5% from three) and versatility, making the Warriors nearly unbeatable. They steamrolled the league, winning championships in 2017 (67-15 regular season, 16-1 playoffs) and 2018 (58-24 regular season, 16-5 playoffs), with Durant earning back-to-back Finals MVPs (35.2 points per game in 2017 Finals, 28.8 in 2018). His impact was undeniable, as Golden State’s offensive rating soared to 115.6 in 2017, second in the league, while their defense remained elite (104.0, second).
The Houston Rockets, a perennial playoff contender, were among the teams powerless against this juggernaut. Despite trading for Chris Paul in 2017 to pair with James Harden, Houston fell to Golden State in the 2015 and 2016 playoffs and again in the 2018 Western Conference Finals (4-3). Paul’s 20.6 points and 7.0 assists couldn’t overcome Durant’s dominance, as one X user noted: “Rockets tried with CP3, but Durant made the Warriors untouchable.” Thomas argued that Durant’s arrival erased the Warriors’ 2016 choke label, stating, “Kevin Durant comes that summer and really saves y’all basketball legacies, and you win two championships after that.” Without Durant, Thomas believes, the Warriors’ legacy would be defined by their 73-9 collapse.
Countering Thomas’s Claim: The Warriors’ Pre- and Post-Durant Success
While Durant’s impact was transformative, the Warriors’ legacy wasn’t solely reliant on him. They won the 2015 NBA championship without Durant, defeating Cleveland 4-2 behind Curry’s 26.0 points per game and Green’s defensive mastery. Post-Durant, they added another title in 2022, with Curry earning Finals MVP (31.2 points per game). These bookend championships challenge Thomas’s narrative that Durant “saved” their legacy. Golden State’s dynasty—four titles from 2015 to 2022—rests on Curry’s revolutionary shooting, Thompson’s two-way excellence, and Green’s playmaking, with or without Durant.
However, Durant’s presence made the Warriors a singular force. Their 2017 playoff run (16-1) remains the most dominant in NBA history, and Durant’s ability to take over games (e.g., 38 points in Game 1 of the 2017 Finals) addressed the offensive lapses seen in 2016. An X user argued, “Durant didn’t save the Warriors—he made them invincible. They still had a ring before him.” The Rockets’ inability to compete, even with Paul and Harden, underscores Durant’s impact, as no team could match Golden State’s firepower during his tenure.
The Rockets’ Struggle and the NBA’s Response
The Houston Rockets epitomized the league’s struggle against the Durant-era Warriors. After losing to Golden State in the 2015 first round (4-1) and 2016 first round (4-1), Houston acquired Chris Paul to form a superteam of their own. Paul’s playmaking and Harden’s scoring (30.4 points per game in 2017-18) pushed the Rockets to a 65-17 record in 2018, but they fell short in the Western Conference Finals, with Paul’s hamstring injury in Game 6 proving costly. Golden State’s depth and Durant’s clutch performances (29 points in Game 7) overwhelmed Houston, highlighting the gap created by Durant’s addition. An X post summed it up: “Rockets gave it their all, but Durant’s Warriors were a cheat code.”
Other teams, from Cleveland to Toronto, faced similar futility. The Cavaliers, despite LeBron’s heroics, were swept in the 2018 Finals, with Durant’s 43-point Game 3 dagger sealing their fate. The NBA’s competitive balance shifted, as Durant’s move sparked debates about superteams and player empowerment, with some fans on X calling it “the move that broke the league.”
Legacy Implications: Saved or Enhanced?
Isiah Thomas’s claim that Durant saved the Warriors’ legacy hinges on the 2016 collapse’s potential to define them as “chokers.” The 73-9 season, while historic, ended in embarrassment, and without Durant, another Finals loss could have tarnished Curry, Thompson, and Green’s reputations. Durant’s two titles and Finals MVPs shifted the narrative, cementing Golden State as a dynasty. However, their 2015 and 2022 championships prove their core was championship-caliber without Durant. His role was less about salvation and more about amplification, turning a great team into an unstoppable one.
The debate remains divisive. Thomas’s perspective resonates with those who see the 2016 collapse as a near-fatal blow to Golden State’s legacy, while others argue Curry’s four rings and revolutionary impact outweigh any single failure. An X user captured the split: “Isiah’s got a point—2016 was a choke for the ages. But Curry’s still the GOAT shooter, Durant or not.” The Warriors’ sustained success suggests their legacy is secure, but Durant’s arrival undeniably silenced critics and elevated their dominance.
Kevin Durant’s 2016 move to the Golden State Warriors didn’t just create a superteam—it reshaped the NBA, leaving teams like the Houston Rockets grasping at straws. Isiah Thomas’s claim that Durant saved the Warriors’ legacy from their 2016 choke holds weight, as his back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs erased the “choker” label. Yet, Golden State’s championships before and after Durant prove their core was already elite. Durant didn’t save them—he made them untouchable. As we reflect on this era, the question lingers: was Durant the Warriors’ savior, or simply their ultimate weapon? Fans, what’s your verdict—did Durant save Golden State’s legacy, or was it already secure?