Tonight’s Rockets-Warriors Game Reminds Us of the KD/Steph Dynasty That Could Have Been

Tonight’s Rockets-Warriors Game Reminds Us of the KD/Steph Dynasty That Could Have Been

We’ve acquired a doozy of a doubleheader on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock this night, beginning with the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. ET, adopted by a sport with all types of playoff implications on the line: the Houston Rockets vs. the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET.

There’s definitely some shared historical past in the first sport, what with Luka Dončić returning home to Dallas together with his new squad, however that historical past by no means amounted to championships… and championships just about outline the shared historical past between the Rockets’ Kevin Durant and the previously unstoppable Golden State Warriors.

RELATED: Full 2026 Sunday Night Basketball Schedule – NBA on NBC and Peacock

Remembering Kevin Durant’s dynastical run on the Golden State Warriors

Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry walking on the court together during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry strolling on the courtroom collectively throughout a sport in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans.

There are acquainted faces in the NBA, after which there’s the faces of the NBA themselves, and Kevin Durant and Steph Curry have been entrance and heart for a very long time now. Durant has been in the NBA so lengthy that he is only one of two guys (alongside Rockets teammate “Uncle” Jeff Green) to have performed for the now defunct Seattle Supersonics, who drafted KD in 2007. Steph’s a child compared, having been drafted in 2009 by the Warriors, the place he is performed each season since.

Meanwhile, in his 18 NBA seasons, Durant has performed for 5 totally different franchises, however six totally different groups, since the Sonics grew to become the Thunder after they moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. And Durant was a key half of the Oklahoma City Thunder squad that misplaced to the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals after being up 3 video games to 1. Ouch.

But as they are saying, if you cannot beat ’em, be a part of ’em, and that is precisely what KD did in the summer time of 2016, signing with the Warriors for an opportunity to compete for a championship underneath head coach Steve Kerr (who’s nonetheless the Warriors’ coach) and alongside Curry, fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green (who’s additionally nonetheless with the Dubs).

How good have been the Warriors with Kevin Durant?

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors together during a game.

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors collectively throughout a sport.

It’s protected to say signing KD was good for the Warriors again in 2016. That season, the Dubs dominated like few groups have earlier than or since, going 67–15 in the common season, and principally sweeping the postseason with an NBA report 16-1 report on the option to beating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (who the Warriors misplaced to the earlier season) in the 2017 NBA Finals. And guess who received the Finals MVP? Kevin Durant.

The subsequent season was principally a replay, with the Warriors sweeping the Cavs in the Finals to win the 2018 NBA Championship, and KD successful one more Finals MVP.

There’s no particular guidelines, however to be thought of a dynasty, a staff has to win at the least three chips, proper? Well, that is the place the what-ifs come into play. In 2019, Durant injured his proper calf in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Warriors, searching for a threepeat, made it to the Finals anyhow, clearing the approach for Durant to make his triumphant return in Game 5, just for KD to finish up rupturing his Achilles. The Warriors in the end acquired beat 4-2 by Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors. Dynasty averted.

RELATED: Why Kevin “KD” Durant Calls His Mom Wanda “The Real MVP” of the Family

Why did Kevin Durant go away the Warriors?

Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during a game.

Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball throughout a sport.

On July 7, 2019, by way of a sign-and-trade, Durant joined the Brooklyn Nets, noting his want to hunt out a contemporary surroundings with new challenges.

“I felt like a lot of stuff in Golden State had reared its head,” Durant told First Take that October. “I felt like it was going to be the end no matter what, especially for that group. Shaun Livingston was retiring. Andre Iguodala was getting older. Our contracts were going to start for the team and put us in a hole to get other players. It was time for all of us to separate.”

Still, hypothesis abounded that maybe the undeniable fact that the Warriors would at all times be Curry’s staff first had one thing to do with it? Either approach, we’ll by no means know the dynasty that would have been, had KD caught round.

Technically, although, Steph and KD did in the end win a 3rd championship collectively, simply not in the NBA. They have been each key members of the 2024 Team USA squad that took gold in Paris.

Is Steph Curry taking part in tonight in opposition to the Houston Rockets?

Hopefully we’ll get to see Curry and KD again on the ground collectively once more, even when it is not on the similar staff. Right now although, Curry’s standing is questionable, as he stays a game-time choice after a knee damage has saved him sidelined since January.

How are you able to watch the Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors on Sunday Night Basketball?

The Easter Sunday version of Sunday Night Basketball begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, as the Los Angeles Lakers head to Dallas to face the Mavericks. The motion continues at 10 p.m. ET, with the Houston Rockets visiting the Golden State Warriors stay from the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Both video games will air stay on NBC of their respective areas, and stream live on Peacock regardless of location.

NBA on NBC

The NBA is formally again on NBC and Peacock, with unique video games each week throughout broadcast and streaming that includes some of the greatest stars in the sport.

The motion kicks off each week with Peacock NBA Monday, that includes unique video games streaming solely on Peacock. Then on Tuesday nights, take a look at NBC‘s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, which options two marquee video games in primetime. With Sunday Night Football wrapped up, the NBA has additionally taken over NBC‘s weekends with Sunday Night Basketball, with a primetime showcase game every week to wrap up the weekend.

Check out the full schedule for each NBA sport on NBC and Peacock this season right here.

From real-time stats and predictive enjoyable to spotlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features places you in management of the way you watch the sport:

  • Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing expertise with new digital camera feeds and immersive views that deliver you to heart courtroom. Available weekly for choose video games all through the 2025-2026 season.

  • Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays displaying taking part in insights, warmth maps, scoring chances, and extra.

  • Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock cellular app for fast recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout performs, wherever you might be.

  • Peacock ScoreCard: Turn each sport into an interactive expertise. Pick from a variety of playing cards and watch as your predictions come true.

  • Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal sport moments with a curated playlist you’ll be able to entry anytime under your participant controls.

Sign up for Peacock now to be sure you’re not lacking a second of the NBA motion. You can also gift the experience!

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