Kevin Durant’s 2018 Finals MVP award remains a topic of intense debate, especially regarding whether Stephen Curry was unfairly overshadowed. Durant secured back-to-back Finals MVP honors in 2017 and 2018 while playing for the Golden State Warriors, but former Warriors guard Quinn Cook has revealed that Durant never intended to claim the award again in 2018. This revelation adds a new perspective to the ongoing discussion about the Kevin Durant 2018 Finals MVP controversy.
Between 2015 and 2018, Stephen Curry helped the Warriors win three NBA championships but never earned a Finals MVP during those years. In 2015, Andre Iguodala was named Finals MVP for his defensive efforts against LeBron James. After Durant joined the Warriors in 2016, he dominated the award in 2017 and 2018, sparking debates about whether Curry was overshadowed despite his strong performances.
What Led to Kevin Durant Receiving the 2018 Finals MVP?
During the 2018 NBA Finals, Curry started strongly, particularly in Game 2 where he recorded a standout, record-breaking performance. However, his struggles in Game 3 opened the door for Durant’s explosive 43-point showing that night. Although Curry responded later with 37 points in Game 4, Durant’s steady and consistent performances across the series ultimately earned him the Finals MVP award again.
Quinn Cook shed light on the situation, stating,
“Kevin (Durant) wanted Steph to get that Finals MVP the next year so bad… Game 3, we were struggling, Steph was struggling, and Kevin just, like, accidentally walked into 40… He wasn’t even as aggressive, and he just accidentally got the Finals MVP back-to-back,”
—Quinn Cook, Former Golden State Warriors Guard.
Curry’s Journey to Finally Earning Finals MVP
Curry’s underwhelming performance in Game 3 was a critical factor that cost him the Finals MVP award in 2018. Despite this setback and persistent comparisons to Durant during their shared years with the Warriors, Curry continued to work on his game. His perseverance culminated in 2022 when he led Golden State to another NBA championship and secured the Finals MVP for the first time in his career, finally earning recognition he had long been denied.
Ongoing Legacy as Top NBA Three-Point Shooters
Beyond their Finals rivalry, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant remain the leading figures in long-range shooting, as reflected in NBA 2K26 ratings. Curry holds a perfect 99 rating after hitting 311 three-pointers at a 39.7% success rate last season, a remarkable feat at age 37 that continues to influence defensive strategies league-wide. Durant ranks second with an outstanding 91 rating, shooting an efficient 43% from beyond the arc while now playing for the Houston Rockets. His three-point and mid-range skills remain essential assets to his current team.
Both athletes symbolize the elite standard of shooting in today’s NBA, consistently ranked at the top in virtual and real-world performance alike.