Kevin Durant got the hardware that matters most
Kevin Durant won the championship and the Finals MVP while Russell Westbrook won the MVP. Both seasons were great, regardless of allegiance.
Russell Westbrook had an incredible season. He was absolutely phenomenal. Whether or not you think triple-doubles are all that, the fact that he was able to sustain such a high level of play for an entire season while carrying his team to the playoffs is amazing.
I don’t believe you need to win a title to have a successful season. Context is very important. So I don’t think it’s fair to say that Westbrook didn’t have a great or successful season.
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But those Internet trolls who can’t get over the fact that a grown man decided to make a decision that was best for him and his family are trying to diminish the value of Durant’s championship. They want to make it seem like winning the Finals isn’t a huge deal. Spoiler alert: it is.
I don’t care who you are or what team you’re apart of of–winning a championship isn’t easy. Did Durant choose a situation with a larger margin of error than the one he had in Oklahoma City? Yes. Was his title guaranteed? No.
Look at this tweet received after trolling the Internet with a silly tweet.
https://twitter.com/KingTralle/status/879761960543412225
Someone really said we needed to remind the world who the champion was because “nobody cares.” Now, I don’t mean to single out that one person, but it’s just one instance of a common sentiment. It’s a ridiculous narrative that Westbrook fans and Durant critics wanted to push.
You play to win championships. And, it’s not like Durant hasn’t won an MVP already. Now he gets to add another piece of hardware to his mantle.
It’s possible to accept the fact that Westbrook was amazing, but so was Durant. It’s also OK to say that Westbrook’s MVP season was impressive and Durant helped lead his new team to a championship. It is also very reasonable to appreciate the fact that Westbrook carried a poor team to the playoffs and that Durant was the Finals MVP on a great team.
Disliking Durant is fine. No one has to like another team’s star. That’s perfectly normal.
But trying to dismiss his championship isn’t fair or reasonable. Durant won the ultimate goal. Westbrook is great. The fact that Durant is better isn’t something to be ashamed of.