Kevin Durant hasn't played under a fantastic infrastructure since his Larry O'Brien-raising days in Golden State. That can change if he joins the Miami Heat this summer.
From the top down, the Warriors were a first-class organization with a proven coach and defensive system that matched their lethal offense. The Heat don't have the offensive firepower, but they green-check those other two boxes with precision. The offense would improve tenfold with Durant.
Since departing from the Bay in 2019, Durant has yet to be paired with an organization that offered the luxuries Golden State did.
Steve Kerr can be criticized like all, but we can't ignore that he's a winner. He's done it as a player and coach. Kerr's time in Golden State coincides with Hall-of-Fame talent in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala (a sneaky Hall of Fame candidate). This Avengers-studded roster admittedly was stacked, but they always had elite defenses that didn't get the credit they deserved.
Green is one of the best defenders of his generation (like Bam Adebayo), but it was Kerr who allowed Green to create havoc as a small-ball five. Kerr devised innovative ways to "hide" Curry on defense, though he was always a willing defender. Adding KD to the nucleus made them one of the most dominant teams in NBA history.
Durant's greatness under that infrastructure bored fans because the championship was decided in September. If you appreciated the roster for what it was, you'd realize Durant made great strides as a defender, and it paid dividends throughout those seasons. In Miami, Durant could lean back into those strengths in an organization that appreciates them.
He's still a plus on the defensive end, but it's been less magnified due to his team's circumstances.
Durant has worn Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns threads since his Warriors departure. Neither franchise had the right coach.
The Nets experiment was a disaster as soon as the team let go of Kenny Atkinson. Akinson and the Cleveland Cavaliers got bounced early in the playoffs, but he did an impressive job leading this Cavs roster to 64 wins.
Steve Nash was hired as a first-time head coach. Things didn't work out, as unforeseen circumstances led to the team relying on Durant to do everything. KD is capable of that, but that's not his intention (he won't need to do that in Miami).
Jacque Vaughn was the coach in Brooklyn before Durant moved to the Suns in 2023. The defensive culture never materialized under either coach.
You'd think Phoenix would've been a perfect landing spot with the combination of talent and seemingly a great coach in Monty Williams. That train went nowhere, and Williams was replaced by Frank Vogel in 2024.
A defensive-minded coach who's a champion is a great hire, right? But he didn't mesh with the players, and the Suns' defense was only slightly positive. He was out.
The Suns hired another defense-first championship winner to steer the ship. Mike Budenholzer's season went as poorly as possible, and he's already been fired.
You see the theme here. There's no consistency for these franchises Durant has laced up for since Golden State. That starts from the top. Durant can count on the stability of Erik Spoelstra if he's a member of the Miami Heat.
Heat provides things the Nets and Suns could not
Erik Spoelstra is widely considered one of the best coaches in the NBA. The NBA named him a top-15 coach of all time, and he makes the most of what's at his disposal.
This past year was abysmal for Miami. From the Jimmy Butler debacle to the stagnant offense to the losing streaks, this year was not the Spo way. With a tornado of chaos twisting and turning every which way in Miami, they still found a way to dip their toes into the playoffs.
That's about all they did, as the Cavs made quick work of them. However, the Heat are missing one thing that Durant has: the ability to score consistently against any coverage. Durant would make the game easier for his potential Heat teammates, specifically Adebayo. Teams wouldn't be able to put three on the ball when Bam rolls to the rim with Durant on the wing.
Miami has what KD desperately needs: stability. Last year was a once-in-a-lifetime situation with Butler on the roster physically but not mentally. Spo has historically had a good grip on his roster and locker room.
The Heat provides a legit defensive infrastructure with or without Durant. KD hasn't been able to let his defensive gains shine brightly since he was a Warrior. KD with Bam under Spo's guidance will illuminate his dynamic help-side rim protection capabilities.
Durant is older, and the Heat are a team he could end his career with. He'd compete for a title knowing he'll have the same coach year in and year out while playing around hungry dogs who love playing defense.
The scoring part comes naturally to Durant, and that's what the Heat need. The 36-year-old is a glove fit, and his experience in Miami would be night and day from his Suns and Nets stops.
