Just like the rest of us, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Tristan Thompson says he was shocked when he heard Kevin Durant was leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Golden State Warriors back in the summer of 2016.
The Warriors went 73-9 during the 2015-16 regular season but lost to Tristan Thompson and the Cavs in seven games in the 2016 NBA Finals. Warriors power forward Draymond Green reportedly played a big role in getting Durant to the Dubs.
Both Thompson and Durant played their college basketball at the University of Texas, so they had a relationship with each other before they entered the NBA. Thompson says Durant is his brother, likely stemming from their fraternal bond generated in both college and in the NBA.
Still, it was a shock to the Cavs veteran to see KD leave the Thunder to join the Warriors.
“Obviously, I was shocked,” Thompson told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. “But at the same time I know what he wanted and it was to be in a position that he felt like he wanted to be part of something special and he saw what they had in Golden State.”
Since signing with the Warriors, Durant has won two NBA championships and two Finals MVPs, so he clearly made the right move from a basketball perspective by joining Golden State.
However, Durant’s image and legacy have taken a hit because many believe he took the easy way out and just hopped on the Warriors’ bandwagon.
