Kevin Durant's harsh Klay Thompson take draws ‘aggressive’ response from former NBA forward

Kevin Durant argued this week that the newly assembled Philadelphia 76ers roster featuring LeBron James is stronger on paper than the Golden State Warriors team he won back-to-back titles with in 2017 and 2018. In making that case, Durant directly called out his former teammate Klay Thompson by name, describing him as someone who was never an MVP candidate.

The comments drew responses from multiple former teammates including Thompson himself, and prompted former NBA forward Evan Turner to come to Thompson's defense.

Evan Turner pushes back against Kevin Durant dismissing Klay Thompson’s MVP credentials

The debate stems from LeBron James' decision to join a Philadelphia roster that already features Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey this offseason. Durant's Warriors teams, by comparison, were built around Stephen Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala before Durant joined in 2016.

Durant initially made his case at a USA Basketball event over the weekend, noting the difference in scoring firepower between the two rosters.

"The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on," Durant said. "[The 76ers] have got four 25-point scorers on this team."

When a fan followed up in the Instagram comments asking whether Durant truly believed the 76ers were the better team on paper, he was direct.

"Ain't close lmao," he wrote. "Joel, MVP recently. Jaylen Brown, recent Finals MVP. Tyrese Maxey, All-Star the last 3 years. We all know what Bron does. Klay Thompson, never a MVP candidate in nothing, 22ppg. Draymond, 14ppg, 7 rebounds, 6 assists. Steph a MVP just like Joel was. I don't get how the Warriors team is better on paper."

Former NBA forward Evan Turner was among those who responded on X, calling out Durant's specific phrasing around Thompson.

"'Was never an MVP in anything' is a tad bit aggressive, LOL," Turner wrote. Turner faced Thompson regularly during his playing days with Portland and Boston and has spoken before about how difficult those Warriors rosters were to game-plan against.

As for Klay Thompson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, he saw Durant’s comment circulating and responded on his Instagram story tagging KD directly: "Aye man u good? What u using my full government for?"

Thompson is a four-time champion, a two-time All-NBA selection, and a five-time All-Star. Durant's point about MVP voting is technically accurate as Thompson received only one MVP vote in his career, finishing tied for 10th in 2015. But the characterization drew criticism with many pointing out that Thompson made five All-Star teams, the same total as Jaylen Brown, while operating as a third option within a system that asked him to sacrifice individual numbers for the team's success.

Draymond Green delivers quippy remark targeting Kevin Durant

Draymond Green also took issue with how Durant framed his former teammates' contributions. Green, who re-signed with Golden State this offseason, referenced Durant's past burner account controversy when he posted on Threads.

"Slim thought he was on his burner?" he wrote.

Green then addressed the matter more substantively on his podcast, pushing back on the idea that the Warriors dynasty could be measured through the same lens Durant applied to the 76ers.

"You have to understand the way KD views basketball, the way KD views basketball is very Uncle Drew-ish, this game will and always will be about buckets. So he's going to mention the 25-point scorers. He also said the Sixers are better on paper than the 2016-17 Warriors. I don't know that I can agree with that, I don't really think it works," said Green.

Green's broader argument was that the value of those championship teams went well beyond individual award credentials and that using MVP candidacy as a benchmark for a player like Thompson missed the point of what made those Warriors rosters function.

The debate over whether the current 76ers can match that dynasty's accomplishments is one fans will be working through all season. Philadelphia has the star power on paper, but the Warriors teams Durant was part of have two championships to show for theirs.

More NBA News:

• Draymond Green ties Victor Wembanyama's $51M pay cut to Jalen Brunson
• Klay Thompson hits back at Kevin Durant over 'never an MVP candidate' dig
• Jaylen Brown reveals what excites him most about playing with LeBron James
• Kevin Durant gets rare all-time nod from ex-teammate Devin Booker with Michael Jordan left out
• Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook Rockets reunion gets surprising endorsement