Iman Shumpert is absolutely still seething over Kevin Durant’s earth-shattering move to the Golden State Warriors, and he just let the world know exactly how he feels. Seriously, years later, Shumpert didn’t hold back one bit, laying the blame squarely on Durant for snatching two championship rings right out of his hands. This isn’t just some casual sideline chatter; he hit Durant with a stone-cold, brutal assessment: “You the reason I missed out on two rings, dog. It was your fault.” That quote dropped during an appearance on Gil’s Arena, and man, you can practically feel the lingering resentment through the screen.
The Unthinkable Jump That Ripped Rings Away (For Shumpert, Anyway)
Think back to that absolutely legendary 2015-16 season, right? Shumpert was a critical role player on those Cleveland Cavaliers, the gritty squad that pulled off the seemingly impossible. They actually stunned the historic 73-win Warriors in the NBA Finals, a truly all-time upset that still gives you goosebumps. You’d expect a rematch, a chance to run it back, right? Nope. Golden State, still reeling from that loss, flipped the entire script on its head. The very next offseason, they went out and added *the* Kevin Durant. Let that sink in for a second: Durant, who had just lost in seven brutal games to those same Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, decided to just *join* them. The sheer audacity opened him up to a storm of criticism from fans around the league, and Shumpert’s comments scream that the Cavaliers felt every ounce of that sting, too.
Two Rings Gone, Vanished Into Thin Air? Shumpert Thinks So
Shumpert stayed loyal with Cleveland for those subsequent two seasons, running alongside the GOAT, LeBron James, as the Cavaliers once again fought their way to the NBA Finals. But what was waiting for them? That newly supercharged, star-studded Warriors team, an absolute powerhouse. Cleveland battled, but they couldn’t overcome the odds, losing to Golden State in the Finals twice in a row. Durant wasn’t just a passenger; he was the driving force, a legitimate Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018. That Warriors squad wasn’t just good; it was a lineup of legends, featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green alongside Durant. It’s totally understandable why Shumpert feels completely robbed of those potential titles. He genuinely believes that if Durant had only stayed put with the Thunder, those two shining championships would have landed right in Cleveland.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting, and the source makes a valid point: it’s quite a jump to assume that the Curry-led team wouldn’t have snagged at least one of those rings even without Durant. I mean, Golden State was already up 3-1 on Cleveland in 2016 before Draymond Green’s suspension threw a wrench in things and shifted the entire series. That’s a huge “what if” right there. Still, to hear Shumpert tell it, Kevin Durant’s choice wasn’t just a career move; it sealed his fate, costing him two more glorious trips to the winner’s circle. He eventually wrapped up his career with stints for the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Brooklyn Nets, but it’s crystal clear that those lost championships still weigh heavy on his mind, fueling comments like these years later. What a wild take, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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