OAKLAND, Calif. — The worst place to be in basketball is between LeBron James and the hoop on a fast break. Over the past month, Kevin Durant has unwittingly found himself in the second-worst place: Stuck between Stephen Curry and an adoring Warriors fan base worried that its homegrown two-time MVP was being marginalized.
When Golden State faced a 3-2 deficit to Houston in the Western Conference finals, it was natural to wonder why Curry’s success and Durant’s success suddenly seemed mutually exclusive. After all, their shared respect had served as the foundation of Golden State’s blossoming dynasty.