Skip to content

Durant: Game 3 Finals shot was a 'f--- you' to Paul Pierce

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After the ball sank through the mesh at Quicken Loans Arena with 45.3 seconds remaining in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant began thinking of all the critics who bashed his decision to move to the Bay Area as a free agent.

Related: Durant calls game-winner over James in Finals 'best moment I ever had'

That includes All-Star turned ESPN analyst Paul Pierce, who questioned Durant's fortitude after he joined a roster that had just bounced his Oklahoma City Thunder team from the playoffs.

"That was a 'f--k you' shot, for sure," Durant told Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher of his game-winning 3-pointer over LeBron James. "To everybody. Especially Paul Pierce. I heard him say, 'I guess he don't want to work no more.' That really struck a nerve when he said that. C'mon, man, I put in work. I know what you were going for, but c'mon. One thing I pride myself on is working out and crafting my skills."

During a May airing of ESPN's "The Jump," Pierce compared Durant signing with the Warriors to a kid becoming friends with a bully just to avoid getting pummeled.

He later changed his tune, saying Durant "may be the best player in the world today" following Golden State's victory in Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Durant is putting up 24.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, five assists, and 2.2 blocks for the 11-4 Warriors.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox