The Miami Heat may be the overwhelming favorites to win their second straight NBA title, but Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant plans to do all he can to stop that from happening. Durant and company came in second place in the NBA last season. They were one of a number of teams that fell victim to LeBron James taking his game to another level.
Second place may be acceptable for some, but Durant has grown tired of it.
“I’ve been second my whole life,” he told Sports Illustrated in an interview for the magazine’s April 29 edition. “I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I’ve been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in the Finals. I’m tired of being second. I’m not going to settle for that. I’m done with it.”
Don’t even think about telling Durant he is only 24 years old and has a ton of basketball left ahead of him. He doesn’t want to hear it. Finishing as the runner-up on so many occasions has clearly taken its toll (though he did not seem too concerned about the scoring title this season), but my guess is no second-place finish on the aforementioned list bothers him more than coming up short in the NBA Finals.
As for whether or not he goes easy on LeBron because of their friendship, that’s just absurd.
“I’m not taking it easy on [James],” Durant insisted. “Don’t you know I’m trying to destroy the guy every time I go on the court?”
Most of us would be shocked if Durant didn’t win an NBA championship during his career. It may not come this season, but he won’t fall short because of a lack of effort. You think it’s a coincidence that his grandmother had to send him this message regarding cussing during games? KD wants it, and he wants it right now.
H/T Eye on Basketball
Photo Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE
