Five Kevin Durant critics who need to look in the mirror

Everyone

If you have a problem with Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors, you should re-think that.

Being upset that a dominant team got considerably better by signing one of the top three players in the world and now your favorite team has an even smaller chance of winning a championship is fine. That makes a lot of sense.

But trying to be the free agency morality police is ridiculous.

At its core, people are getting upset at the fact that a man wanted to choose where he works and lives. They’re getting upset that he wanted to reach the top of his field and felt that a change of scenery would best help him achieve that.

What person would turn down a promotion to go to a world-class employer with amazing co-workers that make coming into work fun everyday? It’s a person wanting to better himself, increase his happiness, and become the best. Why would we judge a person for doing that?

Durant doesn’t own anyone anything. He gave the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise nine amazing years. He was a wonderful contributor to the community in addition to his stellar performances on the court.

Players don’t have to stay with the team that drafted him. It’s illogical to suggest that they do. He didn’t leave for money (which also would have been fine if he did), he left for personal growth and success. That’s admirable.

It’s unreasonable to want to suggest that someone should have to stay in a place that they were arbitrarily relocated to after being sent to a place that was out of their control. This is why free agency exists.

Rings are rings. They don’t mean any more or any less. Wilt Chamberlain‘s rings as a Philadelphia 76er and Los Angeles Laker aren’t any less shiny than Dirk Nowitzki‘s in Dallas.

Next: Greatest no.23 in Warriors history?

Kevin Durant didn’t run away. He is an elite player and suggesting he can’t win a title “on his own” is preposterous. He’s a special talent that has been excellent his entire career. Arguing that he’s not tough enough to win on his own is a really poor analysis. Like he said, this was the harder road.

Basketball isn’t forever. You have to give yourself the best chance and use every opportunity to your advantage.