According to former Golden State Warriors teammate Quinn Cook on “The Player’s Choice” podcast, KD spent the entire season talking about his mission, but fate had other plans.

Cook vividly recalled the dynamic:

“And to be honest, Kevin wanted Steph to get that Finals MVP the next year so bad. That’s all he was talking about all season, like I can’t wait until Steph gets his Finals MVP so he can shut up everybody, the naysayers.

But I think in Game 2 [of the Finals], that’s when Steph broke the record, he had nine 3s. And then Game 3, we were struggling, Steph was struggling, and Kevin just accidentally walked into 40 [points].

And then you just look at the numbers statistically… He wasn’t even as aggressive; that’s just how good he is. He just accidentally got the Finals MVP back-to-back.”

Durant’s accidental greatness was a statistical force of nature.

Despite his best intentions, his 43-point masterpiece in a crucial Game 3 was too dominant to be ignored.

He had given Steph every chance to take the torch, but his own brilliance simply wouldn’t allow it.

It was the one that stung the most.

A Finals MVP trophy that was within reach, a gift a teammate tried to bestow, only to be seized back by the sheer, overwhelming greatness of his own hand.