Golden State Warriors legends Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have engaged in a public social media dispute with former teammate Kevin Durant over his recent comments comparing the Philadelphia 76ers' current roster to the dominant Warriors teams of the past.
Durant ignited the exchange when he argued on social media that the 76ers' new core, featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and potentially others, could favorably compare to the Warriors team he joined in 2016. When a fan questioned the comparison, Durant defended his stance by highlighting the individual accolades of the 76ers' players.
In his defense, Durant specifically mentioned Klay Thompson, stating, “Klay Thompson, never a MVP candidate in nothing, 22ppg.” This comment contrasted Thompson's career achievements with those of Embiid (an MVP) and Jaylen Brown (a Finals MVP), and Maxey's All-Star selections.
Thompson, typically known for his composed demeanor, reacted to being singled out. He shared Durant's comment on his Instagram Story, directly tagging Durant and writing, "Aye man u good? What u using my full government for??"
Draymond Green then joined the fray, referencing Durant's past controversy involving anonymous social media accounts. "Slim thought he was on his burner?" Green posted on Threads, alluding to an incident in 2017 where Durant appeared to defend himself using a secondary account. The remark also touched upon the history of tension between Green and Durant, including a notable argument in 2018 that reportedly contributed to Durant's departure from the Warriors.
Durant's initial comparison acknowledged that Philadelphia possesses multiple players capable of All-Star status, including an MVP center. However, the Warriors team Durant joined in 2016 already had a championship and a record-breaking 73-win regular season under its belt, featuring established chemistry and the shooting prowess of Stephen Curry and Thompson, alongside Green's versatility, before Durant's arrival.
The current iteration of the 76ers has yet to play a game together. Durant's argument regarding their potential will ultimately be tested on the court, but his remarks have so far served to unite Thompson and Green in their response to their former teammate.