Kevin Durant expressed a desire for teammate Stephen Curry to claim the 2018 NBA Finals MVP award.
In the 2016 offseason, Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, forming a formidable trio with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. During his time with the team, Durant made a significant impact, leading the Warriors to two NBA Finals victories in 2017 and 2018.
However, there was an "unwritten rule" during the 2018 Finals—Durant was determined to help Curry win his first Finals MVP award. According to former Warriors player Quinn Cook, Durant spoke about it all season, hoping Curry would silence the naysayers by winning the award.
In the 2018 Finals, Durant averaged an impressive 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, shooting 53/41/96 from the field, 3-point range, and free throw line respectively. Despite his intentions, Durant ended up winning the Finals MVP both in 2017 and 2018 due to his superior individual statistics compared to Curry's.
This decision led to some frustration among Warriors fans and Durant himself. But Durant's desire for Curry to win the Finals MVP in 2018 remained, even if it didn't come to fruition.
In the 2015 NBA Finals, Curry had a strong performance against a LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers squad, averaging 26.2 points on 44.7% shooting from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. However, Andre Iguodala was named Finals MVP.
Unfortunately for Curry, he did not win a Finals MVP award during the five consecutive NBA Finals appearances with the Golden State Warriors from 2014 to 2019.
Durant's tenure with the Warriors came to an end when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a historic seven-team trade. The Houston Rockets later acquired Durant from the Suns.
Reports suggest that the Rockets are not expected to go all-in on an extension for Durant, and they might be willing to let him play out the final year of his contract without an extension. Durant himself is not expected to push for the full max extension.
In the 2021-2022 season with the Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. However, he did not win a Finals MVP award in that season.
As Durant enters the final year of his four-year deal worth $194 million, with a $54.7 million cap hit for the 2025-26 season, it remains to be seen where his NBA journey will take him next. One thing is certain—his desire to help his teammates succeed, as demonstrated by his wish for Curry to win the Finals MVP, will always be a part of his legacy.
- Despite Durant's impressive statistics during the 2018 NBA Finals, he ended up winning the Finals MVP award both in 2017 and 2018, rather than helping Curry secure his first Finals MVP.
- In the 2018 NBA Finals, Curry had another strong performance, but he again did not win the Finals MVP award, a feat he achieved only once throughout his five consecutive NBA Finals appearances with the Golden State Warriors.
- Durant, during his time with the Warriors, not only led the team to two NBA Finals victories but also harbored the intent to help Curry win his first Finals MVP award, as seen in the 2018 Finals.
- Despite not winning any Finals MVP awards himself after moving from the Warriors, Durant's legacy in sports is marked by his unwavering desire to see his teammates succeed, as evidenced by his wish for Curry to win the Finals MVP in 2018.
