Stephen Curry throws a subtle jab at Kevin Durant

Stephen Curry doesn’t need more individual trophies to validate his greatness. He’s made that clear, no fluff. “I’d rather have rings.” The statement, delivered during an interview in China, hits hard now that Kevin Durant is gearing up for a new chapter in Houston. Meanwhile, Curry is entering his 17th season with the Golden State Warriors.

The conversation centered around the two Finals MVPs Kevin Durant earned in 2017 and 2018. Back then, both shared the locker room in one of the most dominant dynasties of the modern era. As reported by Sportskeeda, Stephen Curry admitted he came close to winning the award in 2018. However, a rough Game 3 kept him from clinching it. “KD played incredibly the whole time,” Curry acknowledged. And while the MVP crossed his mind, he made it clear that the championship was always his top priority.

Steph Curry says he only cares about winning rings and that Kevin Durant deserved those two Finals MVPs

(h/t @baby_face_goat )

pic.twitter.com/WGrE6JCfbK

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 26, 2025

A layered confession

What’s interesting is that, according to Quinn Cook—a former teammate of both Stephen Curry and Durant on the Warriors—Kevin Durant actually wanted Curry to win the MVP in 2018. “That’s all he talked about during the season,” Cook revealed on The Panel podcast. “He accidentally ended up winning it a second time.” That confession adds nuance to a relationship often framed by ego and expectation, but also marked by moments of mutual respect.

Stephen Curry, a two-time regular season MVP and the only unanimous winner in league history (2016), has only been named Finals MVP once—in 2022. In 2015, the award went to Andre Iguodala, and during Kevin Durant’s years, the trophy landed with the forward who now suits up for the Rockets. But for Curry, legacy isn’t measured in golden plaques—it’s built on collective titles.

Quinn Cook says Kevin Durant wanted Steph Curry to win the 2018 FMVP

“Kevin wanted Steph to get that Finals MVP so bad, that’s all he was talking about all season — so he can shut up everybody… he just accidentally got the Finals MVP back-to-back.”

(Via @PlayersChoice_) pic.twitter.com/x7VqBqExjk

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 12, 2025

Two forces in the NBA

Kevin Durant, for his part, has taken a more erratic path since leaving Golden State. He went through Brooklyn, then Phoenix, and now lands in Houston with the mission of leading a young squad. Stephen Curry, on the other hand, remains the face of the Warriors—the same team that drafted him in 2009 with the seventh overall pick.

Stephen Curry’s reflection isn’t just a statement of values. It’s a lesson in how NBA history is written. MVPs may decorate shelves, but rings define eras. And in that story, both Curry and Durant have chapters that continue to intertwine.