Kevin Durant can score from anywhere on the floor. His smooth rhythm and effortless touch have turned him into one of the game’s rarest talents. But his place in the all-time top 10 remains a lightning rod for debate.
Every time the conversation starts, someone finds a new angle to diminish what he accomplished. 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas isn’t buying it. He finds it odd that Stephen Curry gets universal praise for all four of his championships while Durant’s two rings are constantly called into question.
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Never mind that KD won Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018 while leading the Warriors to those titles.
Arenas laid out his frustration during a recent episode of “Gil’s Arena.”
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“When people talk about Steph’s legacy and KD’s legacy, it sounds like KD’s two championships, ‘Aw, he had a superteam.’ Steph Curry? Four-time champion! They don’t say two without him; they say all four. How unfair that is, think about it. I called you to help me, meaning, I know you are the difference maker,” Arenas said on his show. “But I get credit for all four; they’re questioning your two. It’s horrible.”
“If KD won his [championships] in OKC and won 2 FMVP, he woulda already been in the Top 10.”
Gil exposes the hypocrisy driving the anti-Kevin Durant championship narrative 👀 pic.twitter.com/wCSE4rdmN0
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) December 8, 2025
The timing matters here. Golden State didn’t bring in Durant after winning back-to-back titles. They were coming off a brutal Finals collapse against the Cavaliers despite posting a historic 73-9 regular season.
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Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Stephen Curry (30) look on during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game four of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
All that dominance meant nothing when Cleveland stormed back from a 3-1 deficit. That is exactly why Durant became essential. He gave them the final piece they desperately needed to finish the job.
And yet the media loudly celebrates Curry’s four rings while holding a completely different standard for the 6’11” star who delivered those back-to-back championships. Arenas sees the double standard clearly. So should everyone else.
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