Kevin Durant stirred controversy again after comparing the 2026-27 Philadelphia 76ers to his own Golden State Warriors dynasty. Durant argued that Philadelphia’s roster, headlined by Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, tops the Warriors squad he joined in 2016. Consequently, several of his former teammates felt overlooked by the comparison, and the exchange quickly spread across social media.
Responding to an Instagram comment, Durant wrote that Embiid recently won MVP, Brown earned Finals MVP honors, and Maxey made three straight All-Star teams. Meanwhile, Durant played down Klay Thompson’s resume, noting the guard was never a MVP candidate despite averaging 22 points per game during Golden State’s 73-win season. He also downplayed Draymond Green’s production, though he still praised Stephen Curry as an MVP caliber talent. Durant closed the comment by saying he did not understand how the Warriors roster was better on paper.
Kevin Durant Klay Thompson Comment Ignites Backlash
Thompson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, fired back on his Instagram Story, asking Durant if he was okay before questioning why Durant used his full name in the post. Meanwhile, Green mocked Durant on Threads, joking that Durant apparently forgot the comment would not stay anonymous. As a result, fans quickly picked sides in the dispute, and the story spread across several NBA outlets within hours.
Kevin Durant Klay Thompson Feud Puts Warriors Legacy in Focus
Nevertheless, neither Thompson nor Green needed to defend their legacy. Both players helped anchor a dynasty that won four championships between 2015 and 2022, including two after Durant departed in 2019. Additionally, Thompson made five All-Star teams during his prime, matching Brown’s total and surpassing Maxey’s, while Green earned multiple All-Defense honors along the way. Despite Durant’s comments, the numbers still favor the Warriors’ collective resume. Ultimately, Thompson and Green can point to titles won without Durant as proof that Golden State’s success extended well beyond any single star.
