The script for Kevin Durant and the 2016-2017 Golden State Warriors

By Trey Alessio

CREDIT: Sporting News

On July 3, Kevin Durant announced he will join forces with the Splash Brothers and sign with the Golden State Warriors, creating the ultimate super team. When Durant made his announcement, it seemed like  the script set up perfectly for the Warriors to take the 2016-2017 NBA season by storm. Well, I wrote a script for what I think will happen in the NBA next year. 

(Parts of this are obviously fictional.)

INT. Oracle Arena. Oakland, Cali. May 30, 2016. Night.
It’s Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. The arena is packed with screaming fans. The camera focuses in on the scoreboard. It’s the fourth quarter and the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS are beating the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, 93-86, with about 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter. KEVIN DURANT takes the ball up the court for the Thunder. He reads the defense and goes right with the ball after one of his teammates sets a pick for him at the top of the three-point arc. DRAYMOND GREEN steps up for the Warriors’ defense and contests Durant’s shot. The ball hangs in the air and bounces off the rim and into the hands of the Warriors. It’s a crucial moment in the game. 

CUT TO:

The clock strikes zero on the Thunder’s season. Confetti falls as the Golden State Warriors win the game, 96-88, and the series to head to the NBA Finals to face off against the CLEVELAND CAVALIERS. The crowd erupts with war whoops and applause. The players and coaches all meet at mid-court to shake hands after the game. Kevin Durant shakes up with STEPHEN CURRY, KLAY THOMPSON, Draymond Green and the rest of the Golden State Warriors. He looks very disappointed. 

CUT TO:

ON SCREEN: 3 DAYS LATER
  
INT. KD’s House. Oklahoma City, Okla. June 2, 2016. Night.
Close up, full screen. We see the Golden State Warriors playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The camera zooms out and we see Kevin Durant sitting on his couch in his living room with some family and friends. 

KD’s FRIEND
(to Kevin)
Man, does this suck to sit here and watch this?
  
KEVIN DURANT
Yeah, but we’ll be back. Don’t even worry about it.

CUT TO:

ON SCREEN: JUNE 19, 2016: NBA FINALS GAME 7
 
INT. Oracle Arena. Oakland, Cali. June 19, 2016. Night.
The camera focuses on the scoreboard. It’s a tied game, 89-89. The Warriors are on fast break with ANDRE IGUODALA leading the way. He cuts through the Cavs defense and passes the ball to Stephen Curry at the shoulder of the key. Curry immediately dishes the ball back to Iguodala in transition. Iguodala drives through the lane and attempts to put up a layup, but LEBRON JAMES comes out of nowhere for the Cavs to pin the ball up against the backboard for a clutch block. 

QUICK FADE:

On the other end of the floor, KYRIE IRVING isolates Stephen Curry at the top right of the three-point arc. Irving quickly reads the defense, does a quickstep and pulls up for a three-pointer. Curry jumps to try and contest the shot, but the ball goes in. The packed crowd goes ballistic. 

QUICK FADE:

Lebron James settles in at the free throw line. The rest of the players on the court line up along the key for the free throw attempts. Lebron takes a deep breath before the first shot. He dribbles, bends at the knees and shoots the ball. It hits the back of the rim and banks out. Lebron turns around in frustration but quickly settles back in for the second free throw attempt. He goes through his routine and fires up another shot. The ball touches every side of the rim before it finally goes in. The camera focuses on the scoreboard. The Cavaliers lead the Warriors, 93-89, with about 10 seconds left. 

QUICK FADE:

On the other end, the Warriors in-bound the ball from the sideline. Stephen Curry gets the ball just beyond the three-point line. IMAN SHUMPERT puts his hand up to contest Curry. Curry half-pump fakes and throws up a three. The ball trickles out and MO SPEIGHTS hurries out to get a shot off before the clock strikes zero and fails to capitalize on the shot. The Cavaliers bench runs on the court to celebrate the win. The team shares a big hug on the floor. Lebron James falls to his knees and sheds tears of joy as the Cavs win 93-89.

CUT TO:

INT. KD’s House. Oklahoma City, Okla. June 19, 2016. Night.
Kevin Durant and his family and friends watch as the Cavaliers celebrate becoming the first team in NBA Finals history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win a championship. Durant takes the remote and shuts the TV off. 

KD’S FRIEND
(to Kevin)
That’ll be you next year, man. Believe that.
  
KEVIN DURANT
Yeah, I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.
  
KD’S FRIEND
Well, we all will support you in whatever you decide to do. 

CUT TO:

FULL SCREEN ON TV:
 
An ESPN anchor stands in front the camera and talks about NBA free agency. 

ESPN ANCHOR
Lots of storylines regarding this year’s NBA free agency with the new salary cap. The main question: what team will Kevin Durant sign with?

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. KD’s House. Oklahoma City, Okla. July 3, 2016.
Kevin Durant stands in his bathroom and looks at himself in the mirror. It seems like he’s doing some deep thinking about something very important. He seems somewhat conflicted. 

CUT TO:

Kevin Durant sits at a desk in an office-like room. He has a laptop open in front of him on the desk. He begins typing.

KEVIN DURANT (V.O.)
(via The Players Tribune)
This has been by far the most challenging few weeks in my professional life. I understood cognitively that I was facing a crossroads in my evolution as a player and as a man, and that it came with exceptionally difficult choices. What I didn’t truly understand, however, was the range of emotions I would feel during this process. The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. 

DISSOVLE TO:

INT. Chesapeake Energy Arena. Oklahoma City, Okla. 2016.
Kevin Durant stands alone in an empty arena. The lights are on but very dim. He walks over and stands on the Thunder logo at mid-court. He seems to be reminiscing. 

KEVIN DURANT (V.O.)
With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors. 

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. Warriors Front Office. Oakland, Cali. 2016.
BOB MYERS—the General Manager of the Golden State Warriors—sits with Kevin Durant and his AGENT.

BOB MYERS
Look Kevin, I’ll get straight to it. We want you. Without you, we can win another title or two. Without us, you might win some too. But together, we’ll win a bunch.
  
KEVIN DURANT
You’re a straight shooter, Mr. Myers. I like that. 

Kevin Durant and Bob Myers shake hands. 

KEVIN DURANT (V.O.)
I’m from Washington, D.C. originally, but Oklahoma City truly raised me. It taught me so much about family as well as what it means to be a man. There are no words to express what the organization and the community mean to me, and what they will represent in my life and in my heart forever. The memories and friendships are something that go far beyond the game. Those invaluable relationships are what made this deliberation so challenging. It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career. I will miss Oklahoma City, and the role I have had in building this remarkable team. 

CUT TO:

EXT. Park. Oklahoma City, Okla. 2016. Day.
Thunder fans set fire to their Kevin Durant Thunder jerseys.

pic.twitter.com/uGeCqfb0T6

— Nick Medina (@rapfavnick) July 4, 2016

KEVIN DURANT (V.O.)
I will forever cherish the relationships within the organization — the friends and teammates that I went to war with on the court for nine years, and all the fans and people of the community. They have always had my back unconditionally, and I cannot be more grateful for what they have meant to my family and to me.

CUT TO:

FULL SCREEN ON TV:
 
An ESPN anchor stands in front of the camera and talks about the state of the NBA.

ESPN ANCHOR
We’re in the era of the super team. KD, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all on one team. Is this real life? After setting the record for most regular season wins in 2016, the Warriors—arguably one of the greatest teams in NBA history—go out and make their team even better. Will this team even lose next year? 

FADE TO:

We see an avalanche of visuals and sound bites of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the rest of the Golden State Warriors winning game after game in 2016-2017. Radio hosts talk about the dominance, writers come up with story after story about the super team and sports TV provides wall-to-wall coverage on the Warriors.

DISSOLVE TO:

ON SCREEN:
 
2017 NBA FINALS GAME 7 – Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
 
INT. Oracle Arena. Oakland, Cali. 2017. Night.
The camera focuses on the scoreboard. The Golden State Warriors are beating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 88-85, with two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Both teams huddle up on the sidelines after a timeout. STEVE KERR—the Warriors head coach—draws up the next play.

STEVE KERR
Alright, guys, stay focused. Two more minutes and we’re world champions. Here’s what we’re gonna do: Kevin’s gonna take it up. Draymond, you’re gonna set a screen. Kev, you’re gonna roll out and find Steph open for a three. Steph, you sink it and let’s put the nail in the coffin. Take your time and milk some clock. Let’s go, guys!
  
KEVIN DURANT
If I see an opening, I’m gonna take it.
 
STEPHEN CURRY
C’mon, Kev. Coach knows what he’s talkin’ ‘bout. Stick to the plan.
 
DRAYMOND GREEN
Yeah, let’s go with Coach.

The Warriors put their hands together to break out of the huddle. Kevin Durant shakes his head in frustration and reluctantly puts his hand up with the rest of the players.

ALL
One… Two… Three… Warriors!

Everybody runs back on the court. 

QUICK CUT TO:

 Kevin Durant takes the ball up the court. He scans the Cavs defense. Lebron James is right in his face. Draymond Green runs up from behind Lebron James and sets a pick. Durant sees Stephen Curry wide open in the corner for a three but decides to drive through the lane. Lebron is all over him on defense, so Durant dishes the ball out to Curry. The Cavs smother Curry as soon as he gets the ball. Durant runs back up to the top of the arc. Curry gets the ball to Durant. He takes a quick shot as the shot clock ticks down. The ball flies through the air but banks in and out of the basket. 

QUICK FADE TO:

The camera focuses on the scoreboard. There’s about 25 seconds left and the Warriors lead the Cavs, 95-94. The Cavaliers have the ball. Lebron James takes the ball up the court. He gets to the top of the key and dribbles the ball, wasting some time off the clock. Lebron takes a quickstep and drives through the lane. Draymond Green meets him in the paint. Lebron attempts to back down Draymond. He scans the Warriors defense and notices along the top of the key, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry get caught up in a pick, leaving Kyrie Irving open. Lebron quickly passes the ball to Kyrie. He sinks the shot as time expires. The fans in Oracle Arena become silent. Kevin Durant looks devastated. Stephen Curry drops to his knees in disappointment as the Cleveland Cavaliers bring home back-to-back titles. 

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. Cavaliers Media Room. Oakland, Cali. 2017. Night.
Lebron James and Kyrie Irving sit in front of microphones as the media fire questions at the champagne-soaked champions. 

REPORTER
At the beginning of the year, everybody thought when Kevin Durant signed with the Warriors they would stroll through the playoffs and eventually win a championship. How does it feel knowing you put a stop to that?
  
LEBRON JAMES
We didn’t pay any attention to that. We knew we had the pieces to win another championship. Kevin did what he had to do to try to win a championship. I’m just glad my team all stuck together to build on what we started last year.
  
REPORTER
Kyrie, what would you say to someone who says only super teams win championships these days?
 
KYRIE IRVING
I’d tell them it’s not about making a super team. It takes all the right pieces to fall into place. I mean the Heat lost to the Mavs back in 2011, and the Warriors lost to the Cavs in 2017. (looks to Lebron and laughs)

Lebron lightly shoves Kyrie as the entire room bursts into laughter. 

FADE OUT. 

CREDIT: Bleacher Report