For most NBA players, the main goal is winning a championship ring, and one retired player recently reflected on not winning multiple NBA championships because of Kevin Durant. Durant has achieved two during his career, both after he famously joined the Golden State Warriors dynasty in the 2016 season, which already included stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Durant claimed NBA Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018, leading the Warriors to back-to-back titles.
Iman Shumpert, who started his career with the New York Knicks after they drafted him in 2011, called out Durant's two championship wins, blaming KD for his failure to win more rings when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers. "You the reason I missed out on two rings, dog. It was your fault how you went and joined [a team] that didn’t need you.
You know what I’m saying? They didn’t need you," Shumpert said on the "Gil's Arena" podcast. More news: A’ja Wilson Finally Reveals Why She Didn’t Play in FIBA World Cup Both of Durant's championships with the Warriors featured the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, and both times, KD and the Warriors won the series convincingly.
In those two finals, they went 8-1 against the Cavaliers, with former Knicks star Shumpert on the roster. Those Cavs teams also included NBA legend LeBron James and All-Star players Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, but didn't have enough to overcome the stacked Warriors lineup. Durant is now starring as a member of the Houston Rockets and might be getting to experience what it's like to play against much more stacked opponents.
While the Warriors dynasty has seemingly faded from the picture, Western Conference foes like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have risen to the top. The Minnesota Timberwolves also traded for former Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, pairing him with All-Star Anthony Edwards to attempt to upgrade their backcourt for the upcoming season. Much is made about some of today's star NBA players chasing championships by joining new teams, something Shumpert's former Cavs teammate, LeBron James, is being criticized for as he prepares for his final seasons.
Durant's Rockets will get to face James's new NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, twice in the 2026-27 NBA season. Philly also traded for Jaylen Brown in the offseason, creating a seriously scary starting five that already featured All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. More news: Caitlin Clark Pushes Back on Angel Reese Question After Team USA Wins Gold For more about the NBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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