Kevin Durant Sparks Controversy: Are Warriors Fans Still Haunted by His Finals MVP Triumphs?

Curry (Five games): 26.8 PPG, 8.0 REB, 9.4 AST, 2.2 STL, 44 FG%, 38.8 3PT%

Durant (Five games): 35.2 PPG, 8.2 REB, 5.4 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.6 BLK, 55.6 FG%, 47.4 3PT%

2018 NBA Finals stats

Curry (Four games): 27.5 PPG, 6 REB, 6.8 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.8 BLK, 40.2 FG%, 41.5 3PT%

2017 NBA Finals stats

Them finals mvps I won hurt you. Scarred alot of warrior fans when my name was announced

Durant, based on his post, seems to believe that some Warriors fans might harbor some resentment for Curry not winning the award for each of the first three championships.

While Durant has more Finals MVPs (2) than Curry (1), it’s fair to assume that Curry is more than content with his four championships.

The superstar forward took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday, to respond to numerous users about a variety of topics, including where he ranked in Golden State’s hierarchy during its dynastic run, claiming some Warriors fans are “scarred” by him winning the NBA Finals MVP award in 2017 and 2018, rather than, for example, Steph Curry.

Durant (Four games): 28.8 PPG, 10.8 REB, 7.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 2.3 BLK, 52.6 FG%, 40.9 3PT%

After veteran forward Andre Iguodala famously — and perhaps controversially — won Finals MVP over Curry in 2015, Durant was awarded the honor over Curry in each of the Warriors’ next two championships, which fueled, fairly or unfairly, a narrative about the superstar point guard’s impact on the biggest stage before Curry finally secured the accolade for Golden State’s fourth championship in 2022.

Kevin Durant isn’t just rattling cages for the sake of stirring the pot — oh no, he’s staking his claim and lighting up the debate once again. Recently on X (remember Twitter?), KD dropped a candid bombshell about the lingering feelings some Golden State Warriors fans have toward him — specifically over those NBA Finals MVP trophies he snagged back in 2017 and 2018. He boldly suggested that his Finals MVP wins still “scar” a portion of the fanbase who might have preferred someone else—yes, I’m looking at you, Steph Curry—to grab that hardware. It’s a refreshingly honest take, especially considering the complex history and championship narratives from those dynastic years. Let’s dive into the stats and the drama that’s shaped this intense rivalry and examine why Durant’s name continues to echo in Warriors lore long after the final buzzer. LEARN MORE

Do the numbers lie?

Kevin Durant believes he lives rent-free in the minds of some Warriors fans for this particular reason.