Shaqdaddy11
MVP
Right now, KD's ring hollow for OKC fans.
My point exactly.
He's not like Malone and Stockton were for Utah
Or as previously mentioned, Elgin with the Lakers.
Right now, KD's ring hollow for OKC fans.
So that's a yes then. You're actually comparing Elgins career with the Lakers to Durants with the Thunder.
Wow
THIS. Being deserving and actually being retired are completely separate issues. KD on merit is absolutely deserving. But as many have indicated he likely won't be, because of fan perception, which is a shame.
But arguing KD's merits don't make him worthy is just stupid. If KD just decided to retire 2 years ago instead of leaving, he'd have his jersey already retired by now.
You're taking this a little bit too personal.
Is this one of Durant's burner accounts?
You're just trying to bash KD. I get it.
I wish because if it were I wouldn't actually be at work today and living in a palace in the Oakland Hills.
How?
Maybe i'm just too spoiled because of the amount of jerseys in the rafters at Staples.
But a guy who only spent 8 years on a team, didn't win anything for the city and bolted at the first chance he got probably wouldn't have his jersey retired for the Lakers.
That's what i'm comparing it to.
Would you be defending him this much if he were still ringless in OKC right now?
So that's a yes then. You're actually comparing Elgins career with the Lakers to Durants with the Thunder.
Wow
I will bite.
You can't simply compare stats because Baylor's era tremendously inflated them.
So, Baylor never won an MVP. KD did. Baylor never won a scoring title. KD won 4 with OKC.
So yeah, it is very fair to compare KD's accomplishments in OKC to Baylor's. it is also fair to say KD has already accomplished more in his career than Baylor did, as great as Baylor was.
Then how come Shaq didn't get his retired in Orlando?
MVP, All-Star appearances and a Gold Medal are all personal accomplishments. Nothing to do with OKC
So tell me, what historic things did Durant do for the Thunder, other than bolt as soon as he had the chance?
Heck, Derek Fisher did more for the Lakers than Durant did for OKC.
Absolutely. If KD retired two years ago instead of leaving, do you think there is any debate his jersey is up in the rafters right now for the Thunder? He's absolutely has his jersey retired. Any Thunder fan would tell you that.
See that's my main argument. It's not his merits that have changed, it's his story. Based on MERIT alone, I think he deserves to have his jersey retired by him. But that changes because of his situation with the organization.
If you had said from the start KD doesn't deserve to have his jersey retired because the jersey retirement is for the fans and he is on bad terms with them right now, I wouldn't have had any issue.
But when you come in and say he's done nothing to deserve it, that's where I took issue, not as a KD fan, but as a basketball fan. Game recognize game.
He was the starting PG for 5 championship teams. His 0.4 shot all but ensured the Lakers made the finals again.
And again, this isn't about individual accomplishments.
So why isn't Fisher's jersey hanging up in Staples Center?
So in summation, according to @Shaqdaddy11:
Derek Fisher deserves to have his jersey retired over a player like Elgin Baylor.
Reasoning behind it is because one was a role player on a championship team, versus another player who was individually only one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. Because personal achievements do not matter.
It depends on the franchise. Shaq was in Miami for 4 years and burned the proverbial bridge; still got his retired in Miami.