At 2 Rings and Counting, Kevin Durant Doesn't Have to Justify Dubs Move Anymore

[TheWild ™]

Six years ago, Kevin Durant congratulated LeBron James on winning his first NBA championship and solemnly embraced his parents before sitting alongside Russell Westbrook at the postgame podium.

The Miami Heat had topped the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. The precocious Thunder featured two (soon to be three) future MVPs, and Durant logged 32 points and 11 rebounds in the final game. Still, Oklahoma City never stood much of a chance against Miami.

"It hurts, man," Durant said from the podium. "We're all brothers on this team, and it just hurts to go out like this. We made it to the Finals, which was cool for us, but we didn't want to just make it there. Unfortunately, we lost, so it's tough. It's tough, man. That's the only way I can explain it. ... I wouldn't want to play with anybody else. I wouldn't want to play for any other city. I'm just blessed to be a part of this organization, and hopefully we can get back."

Durant, of course, found his way back, but without the Thunder. And while the second title won in as many seasons Friday night validated Durant's new team, the Golden State Warriors, as worthy of dynasty consideration, it also have vindicated Durant's choice to join them two summers ago.

The Warriors were historically great before signing Durant, and his acquisition turned them unbeatable. Durant broke the NBA, the critics said, or at least took the suspense out of it.

After Game 3, CJ McCollum and Jared Dudley recognized the greatness in Durant's game while bemoaning the embarrassment of basketball riches the Warriors have:

For all the talent Golden State possesses, it was Durant who again tipped this series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, connecting on a 33-foot dagger three-pointer late in Game 3 to essentially clinch a 3-0 series lead—part of his 43 points on a night Stephen Curry missed nine of his 10 threes.

Kevin Love had the clearest angle of any Cavalier for Durant's series-turning shot Wednesday. Love turned from guarding Klay Thompson, took a couple of fruitless steps toward the basket and traced the arcing ball.

"Sometimes even when you know it's coming and he's playing downhill and he's out there dancing with the ball, that pull-up is tough to stop because he can shoot right over you at that size," Love told reporters.

The net barely had time to settle back in place when a debate that had never really ended picked up again.

Look at the resume. Durant is annually building his case as one of the best to ever play the game. He is just one of 11 players in NBA history to claim multiple Finals MVPs. On Friday, he capped Finals averages of 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game with his first playoff triple-double.