These NBA Playoffs have been weird so far, for the first time in what seems like forever, a LeBron James led team is not competing in the NBA Finals. Pair this with the fact that Kevin Durant might miss the whole finals and we have the perfect recipe for a legacy changing finals series. The way I see it, based on the outcome, there could be four huge history changing repercussions from these finals.
1. Warriors win without KD and Steph Curry gets his finals MVP
If the Warriors win this series without KD and Steph Curry wins the Finals MVP, you could make a legitimate debate that he is the greatest point guard of all time and a top 5 NBA player of all time. Another championship would mean 4 rings for Steph to go along with 2 Regular Season MVPs and recognition as the greatest shooter to have ever played. Steph Curry vaulted to top 5 debate.
2. Kawhi Leonard wins the NBA Championship and receives finals MVP
Kawhi's legacy wouldn't quite be cemented but it would mean a second Finals MVP in just 8 NBA seasons. There would be little to no argument that Kawhi is the best player in the NBA if he pulls this off. He's already started receiving comparisons to Michael Jordan, this championship would be life changing. Kawhi would also certainly move up in the debate for greatest small forwards of all time. Kawhi Leonard enters debate as best player in the NBA.
3. Raptors win the NBA Championship
If the Raptors win this NBA Championship they win one for all of Canada. But more importantly, it means they most likely keep Kawhi Leonard. If the Raptors keep a 27 year old Kawhi Leonard, pair him with the rising 25 year old Pascal Siakam and a great coach in Nick Nurse, the Raptors would have an NBA franchise to be feared for the foreseeable future. Think Chicago Bulls when they finally broke through and won their first championship. Take the Jordan years out and they are an extremely average franchise but with the Jordan years they catapulted into one of the most profitable NBA franchises. Toronto Raptors a new juggernaut.
4. Warriors win NBA Championship without Kevin Durant
IF the Warriors win this series without Durant, then it further proves the naysayers right. It was already a bad look to join a record setting 73 win team who had just lost in the finals but imagine the stories if that same team wins a championship after coasting through the playoffs without Durant. This does not mean KD is not an all time great but it definitely puts his rings in a whole new light. Kevin Durant's championships become meaningless.
Who knows how these finals will end, but what we do know is the result could have repercussions for decades to come.
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