July 4th, 2016, Kevin Durant posted [this article](https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/kevin-durant-nba-free-agency-announcement) on The Players’ Tribune, informing the world of his decision to leave Oklahoma City and join the Golden State Warriors in one of the most shocking moments, if not THE most shocking moment in NBA history.
This move changed the NBA moving forward. Teams building their own “Big-3s” and form all-star laden teams became much more prevalent then ever, in order to counter the behemoth of the Warriors.
**Some teams made it their entire mission to take them down.**
This move denied so many stars and teams a legitimate chance to win. Only injury would allow them even the tiniest chance of success.
**7 years**. Time flies if you don’t stop to look around and smell the roses.
_________
**Edit:** Here is the [original](https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/4r7qdh/my_next_chapter_by_kevin_durant/) thread from way back when. It was *brutal*.
by CulturalRoll
35 Comments
This was the worst day in modern nba history
The toughest road by any superstar to win their first ring. Truly remarkable
Day that will live in infamy
No fucking way that was 7 years ago.
That was like 3 at most.
Bro literally owns the 4th of July in my head. I remember sitting on the porch with ole pappy and mammy literally my head spinning I could never explain to them the gravity of the thing I just saw on my phone. Their scared of elevators, highways, and gays. They could never conceive why Kevin Durant joining some different team changed the projection of my entire week.
Incredible what he accomplished. The odds were stacked against him and he came out on top. Truly inspiring stuff.
ehhh, I think the LeDecision interview is the most infamous signing. It was a whole espn special.
The weakest move ever from a superstar.
Till this day I still don’t know why Kd didn’t just go to Boston.
That team would have 2 more rings if he stayed…
Kevin Durant, to this day, does not get enough shit for this.
Damn time is flying
Cupcake
Might as well just gave him the rings then. Lamest move ever
The death of basketball for 2+ years.
I remembered driving through the mountains that day, listening to Bill Simmons’ multipart pods on free agency.
I had no cell signal until at a small gas station in the middle of nowhere, and found out through the bleacher report. I remembered just thinking:
You, Motherfucker, You!
I will root against him until the day he dies.
I still remember where I was, blew up my world
I didn’t give a shit about the NBA 7 years ago but I still knew for sure that KD was a snake
I’m old
LeBron to Miami with “The Decision” remains the most infamous signing
I mean, the most infamous signing was the decision, they did it live on TV!
I firmly believe that they don’t beat the Cavs without KD…and the rings argument for MJ dies an early death.
Good thing there’s a multiverse, right?
so many people will forever view KD different because of this. His lack of success with the other Big Three attempt (to say nothing of his current Suns stint and the arrival of Beal) only magnifies the question of how important KD was to those GSW championships.
I remember exactly where I was when this happened. Fuckin traumatic
Looking back at it im still kinda shocked they only won 2 rings, felt like they could win 6-7 if they wanted
There’s no way this is more infamous than LeBron taking his talents to South Beach.
The pussiest free agent signing since LeBron went to Miami.
KD in here rn giving everyone Snek awards
Lebron to Miami will forever be number 1, but this was top 3 for sure. Top 1 lamest, I’d go so far as to say. Not just because the Warriors were dominant and in their primes, but the fact that KD had just lost to them after playing less than great in the last couple of games of blowing a chance to finish them off in the playoffs. The Thunder legitimately could have won that series and history as we know it would’ve been very different.
“This move changed the NBA moving forward. Teams tried to build their own “Big-3s””
Bro just forgot about the Heatles or something. Big 3s were not new.
This was not the start of Big 3s
The Lebron James decision will be the biggest free agent signing of all time. It’s not even close.
Comment from the original thread:
> My sauces are telling me 80 wins and a Game 7 loss to Lebron
Damn.
As a Cavs fan it ruined my mood for a while. It ruined a great rivalry too. At least we always have 2016… Still would have liked more though.
Lmao somebody is giving every comment the snake award