Kevin Durant on Finals 3-pointer over LeBron James: ‘I felt like he was passing the torch to me’

The signature moment of his dominant 2017 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant pulled up for the go-ahead 3-pointer over LeBron James to lift the Warriors to a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Durant, via Zach Baron of QQ:

“That was the best moment I ever had,” Durant told me. “I made the game-winning shot in the finals against my fucking idol. Somebody that I really, really, really followed since I was a ninth-grade high schooler. I felt like he was passing the torch to me.”

LeBron sure didn’t see that as a passing of the torch. He’s “still in win mode.”

But was it an involuntary passing of the torch?

Durant is nearly four years younger than LeBron and thoroughly outplayed LeBron in June. That usually doesn’t turn the other direction with time.

That said, Durant had far more help. LeBron wasn’t playing with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

LeBron has earned the benefit of the doubt that he’s the best player in the world. Durant has at least built a case he deserves the title, but I’m not ready to say the torch has been passed.