Houston Rockets star and NBA veteran Kevin Durant clapped back at one Michael Jordan fan who downplayed his and LeBron James’ legacy and championships in comparison to that of the former Chicago Bulls legend.
In a heated exchange on X, Kevin Durant did not let one fan’s criticism go unanswered when one account downplayed the value of the championships he won, and that with LeBron James, during the era of the “big Three” with the Miami Heat.
“39 seasons combined and 0 legit rings altogether. Superteam rings mean absolutely nothing historically,” the fan posted.
“Sure airBot..” Durant replied.
LMAOOOOOO.
Ain’t our fault you choke in the clutch, holmes.
Prime Larry Bird and the mid-1980s powerhouse @Celtics would OBLITERATE your Superteam @Warriors.
Y’all too small.
Who guarding McHale and Chief in the post? Zaza Pachulia? Dray? YOU?https://t.co/6XMIwuN0K6
— AirJordans23 (@AirJordans2323) August 18, 2025
The argument came from the point that championships won by Durant and James lack the same weight as those won by Jordan, as those were built around superteams rather than individual star players.
The back-to-back Finals championships Kevin Durant won in 2017 and 2018 were with a Warriors team that already had a core of players (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green) in place, and all they needed was a star like Durant.
Similarly, LeBron’s critique comes from the fact he has four titles that did not occur without a roster reset designed for his talent, from the “Big Three” with Miami to a star-studded Lakers roster that included Anthony Davis.
While Durant and James are celebrated as generational talents, this segment of the fan base maintains their legacies will forever be marred by the notion that they joined forces with peer superstars rather than conjuring championships almost single-handedly, as Jordan famously did in Chicago.
Insiders around the Rockets organization believe Houston won’t be moving to offer Kevin Durant a full maximum-salary extension when he becomes eligible to negotiate after 2025-26. Durant, who is already under contract for next season and qualifies for up to a two-year, $120.5 million extension, has reportedly signaled he isn’t intent on chasing every dollar.
Financial analysts at Spotrac have sketched out what they view as a reasonable middle ground: a two-year agreement worth $100 million, with annual salaries of $50 million and a player option in the second season. This structure would keep Durant’s pay flat and give Houston more breathing room under the luxury cap in summer 2027.
It’s a compromise that balances Durant’s standing among the league’s elite scorers with the Rockets’ need to manage a growing payroll.
Should Kevin Durant decline his option, the Rockets could even unlock full midlevel or tax-space flexibility. With Bird rights intact, they’d retain the ability to re-sign him whenever both parties are ready.
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