In today’s Dub Hub:
- Draymond Green, Klay Thompson respond to Kevin Durant’s viral Instagram comment comparing the new-look 76ers to the Warriors team he joined in 2016.
- Will Richard aims to be a more vocal leader entering his second season with the Warriors.
- WNBA announces the Cleveland Sirens as the league’s newest expansion team.
When LeBron James made his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, it quickly made them one of the NBA’s newest superteams. The revamped roster now features James alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, giving Philadelphia one of the most star-studded lineups in the league.
Of course, whenever high-profile team-ups occur, fans naturally point back to when Kevin Durant “broke the NBA” by joining a Golden State Warriors team in 2016 featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson,
Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala all in their Warriors primes.
So, when Durant took the conversation to Instagram, his comments about James’ new-look 76ers being more talented on paper than the Warriors team he joined quickly went viral and attracted attention from both of his former Golden State teammates, Thompson and Green.
While the exchange appeared to be all in good fun, it serves as another reminder of the legacy of Golden State’s dynasty. Nearly a decade later, the Durant-era Warriors remain the benchmark for every NBA superteam, and any comparison to that historic roster is almost guaranteed to spark some debate.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, August 4th:
Warriors News:
Klay Thompson objects to being used in Kevin Durant’s Warriors-76ers comparison | The Athletic
“Ain’t close,” Durant wrote in reply to an Instagram comment comparing the talent level of the newly formed 76ers with the 2016-17 Warriors team he left Oklahoma City to join. “Joel [Embiid] MVP, recently. Jaylen Brown, recent Finals MVP, Tyrese Maxey, All-Star in the last 3 years. We all know what Bron does.
“Klay Thompson never an MVP candidate in nothing, 22 (points per game).”
It is the latest example of Durant seemingly using James’ decision to form a superteam in Philadelphia in pursuit of another championship to validate his own much-criticized move to the 73-win Warriors after Golden State eliminated his Thunder in the previous Western Conference finals.
Will Richard finds voice as leader during Warriors’ NBA Summer League title run | NBC Sports Bay Area
“This was a great opportunity for me to find my voice on the team,” Richard told reporters. “That’s not just talking and all that but leading by example. Making sure I’m coming here doing the right things and being a voice where the coaches can connect to the players.”
Instead of going outside of himself throughout summer league, Richard expanded on his role and jumped into bigger shoes after a year of learning from all-time greats. His services will be needed even more in Year 2, and the Warriors should be able to rely on him even more with confidence in his game and his communication.
Brandin Podziemski debuts new haircut
NBA News:
Chris Bosh cautions Wemby on blood clots: ‘Take your medicine’ | ESPN
Bosh is cautioning Wembanyama not to take his health and quick return for granted. In February, Bosh had a clotting emergency that nearly killed him.
“Yeah, I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead, pretty much, and came back to life. I’m not joking. I had another pulmonary embolism,” he told HoopsHype.com. “You just got to deal with it for the rest of your life. I thought I was past it. I am not.”
WNBA introduces new expansion team called the Cleveland Sirens
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
More of the same: Warriors agree to one-year deal with Gary Payton II
Already 33, limited, and with an extensive injury history, Payton only further solidifies Golden State’s attempt to run it back with the 37-win 2025-26 roster. A perplexing approach given the team’s struggles and age. Nevertheless, Payton is a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr and face of the franchise Steph Curry.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
