Kevin Durant’s Mom Wishes He Stayed with Golden State Warriors for More Rings
August 13, 2024 – If it were up to Wanda Durant, the mother of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, she would have preferred her son to stay with the Golden State Warriors and add more championship rings to his collection. This sentiment came to light during a recent episode of TV One’s “Raising Fame,” which aired just days after Team USA’s men’s basketball team clinched its fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Hosted by Lucille O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal’s mother, and Sonya Curry, mother of Golden State Warriors’ superstar Stephen Curry, the show featured an insightful conversation between Wanda Durant and Sonya Curry. The episode delved into nostalgic moments from Durant’s time with the Warriors and his partnership with Stephen Curry.
During their discussion, Sonya Curry expressed her initial frustration over Durant’s decision to leave the Warriors after just three seasons. “I was kind of mad at him when he left at first,” Sonya admitted, reflecting on the impact of Durant’s departure.
Wanda Durant echoed similar sentiments, admitting, “I didn’t really want him to go either.” She added, “Man, we would have had 20 rings by now. We would have had 20 rings by now and it was about [eight] years ago, that’s how cold they were.”
Durant’s Time with the Warriors
Kevin Durant joined the Warriors in 2016, the same team that had defeated his Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs the previous year. This move was seen as forming one of the strongest superteams in NBA history, with Durant joining forces with Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Durant’s tenure with the Warriors was marked by remarkable success. During his three seasons with the team, he secured two NBA Championships (2017 and 2018) and earned two Finals MVP awards. The Warriors also set an NBA regular-season record with a 73-9 record in the 2015-2016 season.
A Shift in the Landscape
However, in 2019, Durant announced his decision to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, which effectively ended the Warriors’ dominant run. Many speculated that Golden State would struggle to win another championship without Durant. Yet, in 2022, Stephen Curry led the Warriors to another NBA Championship, their fourth in eight years.
Despite the continued success, fans still wonder how the team would have fared if Durant, Curry, Thompson, and Green had stayed together. The quartet’s influence was so significant that they earned spots in the 2017 and 2018 NBA All-Star games.
A Reunion on the International Stage
Fortunately for basketball fans, Durant and Curry reunited for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Together, they led the American team to yet another gold medal, adding another achievement to their illustrious careers.
While Wanda Durant’s wish for more rings with the Warriors remains a point of reflection, Durant’s legacy continues to grow with each new victory, both in the NBA and on the international stage.
