When Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016 it started a new dynasty, and rewrote Durant’s entire legacy up to that point.
In a way, it also prevented Stephen Curry from reaching his maximum potential during that time frame.
The Warriors did a lot of winning with Durant, securing two more championships, and holding a 182-64 record in the three seasons Durant spent with the team. Individually, Durant won two NBA Finals MVPs, preventing the two-time MVP in Curry from securing that last piece to the accolade puzzle. Of course, Curry finally got that in 2022 when he won Finals MVP against the Boston Celtics.
Speaking on the [Player’s Choice Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/live/LL5JaYBLz0U?si=5T8irvzXjtzJsqTP), Quinn Cook, a former teammate of Durant and Curry’s in Golden State, said that Durant was actually hopeful that Curry would earn Finals MVP instead of himself.
“Kevin wanted Steph to get that Finals MVP the next year so bad,” Cook said, referencing the 2017-18 season. “That's all he was talking about all season, like I can't wait until Steph gets his Finals MVP so he can shut up everybody, the naysayers.”
For what it’s worth, it’s not like Durant didn’t earn Finals MVP in his own right that season. In the Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Durant averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three-point range. Nonetheless, it shows the type of teammate that Durant is, that despite his own greatness, he still wants to see his teammates thrive on the biggest stage.