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[Saba Sports News] The Miami Heat’s decision to honor Dwyane Wade with a statue at the Kayesa Center sparked a discussion among Gilbert Arenas, Brandon Jennings, Kenyon Martin, and Josiah Johnson about whether Kevin Durant deserves a similar tribute from the Golden State Warriors. This conversation led to Arenas humorously suggesting Draymond Green might react aggressively to a Durant statue.
Jennings firmly believed Durant earned a statue for his impact in Golden State, but Arenas questioned the criteria, comparing Durant’s contributions to those of other notable players like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman with the Bulls, and Derek Fisher’s role in his team’s success. Arenas initially hesitated on Durant’s eligibility due to his relatively short stint with the Warriors but then joked about Green’s hypothetical reaction to a Durant statue, suggesting it should be placed in Oakland, not San Francisco.
The pair also agreed that players like Klay Thompson, despite being crucial to the Warriors’ championship success, might not warrant statues since they weren’t the primary draw for fans.
This debate also opened up a broader discussion about current NBA players who might deserve statues. LeBron James and Stephen Curry were consensus picks, given their transformative impact on the Cavaliers and Warriors, respectively. James might even be honored by the Heat for his significant contributions there.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic were also mentioned as potential candidates for the Bucks and Nuggets, considering their monumental roles in their respective franchises, which currently lack player statues.
The conversation also touched on emerging stars like Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, noting that while it’s too early to predict, leading their teams to championships and long-term commitments could eventually put them in the running for such an honor.