Joe Lacob said it’s a done deal that KD gets it.
Throughout human history, one of the highest achievements a man can have is having a statue in their honor. And when it comes to sports, that’s the ultimate immortalization: their visage forever molded and displayed for generations to come.
Here’s a list of the legends who have statues in their honor:
- Michael Jordan – Chicago Bulls
- Magic Johnson – Los Angeles Lakers
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Los Angeles Lakers
- George Mikan – Los Angeles Lakers
- Jerry West – Los Angeles Lakers
- Shaquille O’Neal – Los Angeles Lakers
- Elgin Baylor – Los Angeles Lakers
- Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
- John Stockton – Utah Jazz
- Karl Malone – Utah Jazz
- Dominique Wilkins – Atlanta Hawks
- Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
- Larry Bird – Outside Indiana State University
- Bill Russell – Boston City Hall Plaza
- Wilt Chamberlain – Philadelphia 76ers facility
- Julius Erving – Philadelphia 76ers facility
- Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
- Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
I actually watched the entire career of D-Wade, the most recent inductee into the statue brotherhood. It’s amazing to see a guy’s career from rookie to grizzled vet, entertaining arena after arena and bringing championships to the city that drafted him.
That’s why when Kevin Durant, Warriors legend and one of the greatest players in NBA history, was unsure if he’d get a statue despite his Hall-of-Fame career, I was shocked!
“I highly highly doubt I get a statue of me put anywhere for playing basketball… It’s usually those guys that got the HOF career, with championships, you been with one city for a long time. That’s not the case for me.”
– KD
( @UpAndAdamsShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 31, 2024
“See, Dwyane Wade is a different case,” Durant continued. ”He is Miami. He is the Heat. It’s very few players who get that kind of love in a city like that. It’s usually those guys that got the Hall of Fame career, with championships, you been with one city for a long time. That’s not the case for me. But I can see it for a couple of other guys in the league.”
Honestly, in my humble bloggardly opinion, KD could get a statue easily in Oklahoma City and Golden State. He won an MVP with the Thunder and took them to an NBA Finals. Of course, he defected to the Golden Empire and solidified their dynasty, winning two Finals MVPs and two rings with the Dubs.
This runs counter to the idea that GSW owner Joe Lacob said in 2021 that Durant would be included in the Hamptons 5 statues:
The Warriors’ big three of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are some of the most important players in franchise history, leading the organization to three NBA championships in five seasons. Kevin Durant won two Finals MVPs and nearly brought the Warriors back for a fourth title before his Achilles injury in the 2019 Finals.
Warriors CEO Joe Lacob told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Grant Liffmann that he wants to see not only those four have permanent honors at Chase Center, but also 2015 NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala.
“Clearly with the great achievements that the core of Curry and Draymond and Klay and Kevin, for three years, wasn’t as long as those guys, and even Andre Iguodala, I’d say those five guys certainly deserve some sort of ultimate long-term recognition,” Lacob told Liffmann on “Dubs Talk.”
“Once they retire, I’m sure they will be appropriately honored.”
GIVE DURANT A STATUE MR. LACOB!