Why Kevin Durant is The Most Hated NBA Player Today, and How He Got His ‘Snake’ Nickname

‘‘I know some people look at me as this malicious snake"

• Leaving Oklahoma City and Russel Westbrook

Kevin Durant changed the NBA landscape by signing with the Golden State Warriors eight years ago: July 4, 2016. On that infamous day, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost their greatest player in franchise history, and their championship window officially closed. What makes this move sting even worse was that the Thunder were a win away from upsetting the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals (and finally getting over the hump into the NBA finals). The fan base went from championship aspirations to watching their best player join the team that just beat them. Seeing their title window close in a one-month span created quite a whiplash of emotions for the city. Not only did he betray the franchise, he left his superstar partner-in-crime Russell Westbrook high and dry.

• Winning

The Warriors couldn't defeat the Cleveland Cavilers and Lebron James in the 2016 NBA finals; but once KD joined, they won two championships in a row and the hate grew ever stronger. It seemed like all the hard work and years of build-up was for naught with OKC, as the Warriors immediately won the finals that year. KD joining the already-best team in basketball, the Golden State Warriors, was like Randy Moss joining the New England Patriots. Just like Randy did for the Pats, Kevin Durant gave the Warriors the prime years of his career: 27.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, two titles, and two finals MVPs. The only difference? KD won the big one—two, in fact. Durant, so lethally consistent, played 256 games for the Warriors and scored double-digit points in 255 of them. They went 15-0 in their first 15 playoff games in the Durant era, becoming the first team ever to sweep three series in a row. The 15th consecutive playoff win was punctuated by Durant’s most important on-court moment with the Warriors, maybe the signature shot of his career. Of those four Cavaliers teams the Warriors faced in the Finals, many believe the 2017 one — not the 2016 team that actually won Cleveland’s lone title — was the best. Kyrie Irving was still there, LeBron James remained all-powerful and the supporting cast was its sturdiest. But Durant’s arrival turned an even rivalry lopsided. He scored 38, 33, 31, 35 and 39 points in the five Finals games, disposing of the Cavaliers quickly. The only time Cleveland had real hope came in Game 3, at home, desperate to avoid a 3-0 hole. The Cavaliers were up four with 1 minute and 23 seconds left. Out of the timeout, operating on an island, Durant scored on a 12-foot fadeaway over Tristan Thompson. And then, calling his own number in transition, he buried a deep go-ahead left wing 3 over LeBron, a personal 5-0 run that essentially sealed the title and secured him his first Finals MVP. Over the course of three seasons, KD and the Warriors had a combined 32-6 record in the playoffs and a 154-54 regular season record. As The Warriors and KD continued to dominate the league, the hate grew stronger.

• Ring chasing

KD tore his leg, and the Durant era was seemingly over for San Francisco. When KD hit free agency, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Then seven-time all-star Kyrie Irving signed with the Nets. Then eight-time all-star James Harden joined the Nets. All in the same 2019 off-season. Durant was making his own super team. And the outrage was sparked again. KD was jumping from super team to super team, otherwise known as ‘ring chasing’. A term frowned upon and used negatively by ESPN analysts, sports journalists, and most importantly, fans. 

• Losing 

While winning sparks outrage, so too does losing. The Nets were plagued with injuries (and perhaps some laziness); and in those three seasons, the big three only played in 16 games together. They were only able to muster up one playoff appearance, where they got swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2021-22 NBA playoffs. Finally, Kevin Durant was losing, and at long last the NBA world could laugh at his failure. OKC fans, Cavs fans, and other NBA fans who were done with KD terrorizing their favorite team could rejoice, knowing that KD and the new super team failed. Then, the three-headed monster split ways, and KD joined a new super team in 2023 with the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix had young superstar Devin Booker and was looking to make a championship run with the addition of KD. However, in the past two seasons, the Suns have failed to make it to an NBA finals with the duo. This brings us to today: Kevin Durant is 35, has two years left on his Suns contract, and who knows how much gas he has left in the tank.

• Social Media

Unfortunately, social media has sparked most of the hate for Durant. There have been plenty of players who have left teams and found success in new ones. However, in KD’s case, he played during the “social media era,” where any fan has an ability to say anything, anywhere. This, alongside the previously mentioned ESPN talk show hosts (like Steven A. Smith, for example,) fuel the already-burning fire of hate. Some other players have also fallen victim to the insults, nicknames, and hateful comments from TV or social media. But, usually, they just don't respond, knowing that they have millions of dollars and the people tweeting all day… don't. Not KD though. Over the past several years, he has been notorious for responding to comments, creating even more backlash for himself. He admittedly took a step back and recognized his behavior, even calling himself by his own nickname “I know some people look at me as this malicious snake, passive-aggressive. I know how people feel about me sometimes,” in response to a comment from former teammate Draymond Green. 

So was Kevin Durant just caught at the wrong places at the wrong times, in an era that does him no favors? Or was his ring chasing intentional and the ‘snake’ nickname rightfully garnered? Probably the latter, but who knows where KD will go next. Maybe a new superteam, or maybe he's finally done. One thing is for certain, he's one of the best NBA players of all time, whether you like it or not.