![Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://2paragraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Stephen_Curry_dribbling_2016.jpg)
Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the Warriors heard boos in the preseason opener against the Raptors on (somewhat) neutral territory in Vancouver. Steph Curry understood it — he’s used to playing the villain on the road — but then again he didn’t quite get it. Curry seemed surprised since fans in Vancouver had no reason to be “affected by” Durant’s free agent move to the Warriors. It wasn’t like they were playing in Cleveland — or, worse, OKC. But Curry is wrong to think it’s only those places where people have a vested interest in what happens to NBA personnel. The whole league’s balance was affected by the move, even if Curry can’t fathom it:
“I highly doubt anybody in this arena was affected by (Durant’s free-agent decision),” Curry said (via NBA.com). “It’s just funny kind of buying into a narrative that doesn’t really make sense.”
What Curry’s statement fails to consider is that NBA fans care about way more than just their own home teams — they’re all affected by how the league operates, especially if it allows “super teams” to wreak havoc on the league’s rivalries and parity, such as it is. Even NBA commissioner Adam Silver has indicated he’s no fan of Durant’s move to Golden State, saying “I don’t think it’s good for the league.” Consider that Silver’s paramount concern is the NBA’s overall health, which depends on NBA fans everywhere, not just in Golden State, Cleveland and Oklahoma City. Curry may not get it now, but by the end of the season he’ll no doubt know a lot more about the “narrative” people are buying into — or not buying into.
