The Spurs' decision to pass on Kevin Durant keeps aging beautifully

This past offseason, the Spurs were reportedly close to acquiring Kevin Durant. San Antonio was at the center of the rumors surrounding the future Hall of Famer, and analysts everywhere predicted that he might end up in the Alamo City. While the front office eventually shut down the idea of trading for KD, it was certainly on their minds as a potential option.

Instead of grabbing Durant, the Spurs sat back and played free agency. Without having to shell a chunk of their financial flexibility over to the veteran, San Antonio was loaded with cash to spend. With that money, General Manager Brian Wright went out and pulled off a surprising move in picking up Luke Kornet.

That restraint allowed them to address specific roster needs instead of chasing another star. Many media members believed that by not adding a talent as great as Kevin Durant, the Spurs wouldn't have championship upside in 2025-26. Boy, were they wrong.

Avoiding Kevin Durant was a stroke of genius

In theory, adding a player of the caliber of Kevin Durant would exponentially increase your title odds. The Durantula is a former regular-season and finals MVP and has proven that he can win wherever he goes. The first-ballot Hall of Famer is as good as it gets and will likely go down as one of the best to ever lace 'em up. But that doesn't mean he's without his own problems.

I don't want to speculate about his latest drama involving yet another burner account, but there is something to be said about his ability to gel on new teams. Durant has left a trail of agony since leaving Golden State in 2019.

Both stints in Brooklyn and Phoenix went horribly wrong for one reason or another, and now Houston is on the brink of disaster. Each team completely failed to live up to the lofty expectations and then looked like fools for acquiring Durant.

That is not what this young team needed. This Spurs squad is gritty, furious, and built around the juice of their adolescence. San Antonio is living off its own success in the draft and free agency and has built a squad that loves playing together. This team was built from the ground up and takes great pride in itself. That is precisely what made Luke Kornet an excellent pickup.

Luke Kornet has been the far better option for San Antonio

The former NBA champion brings everything the Spurs needed. Kornet isn't going to ask for more playing time or demand a lion's share of the touches like Kevin Durant. Instead, the big man will come in when he's needed and give every ounce of heart he has on the basketball court.

Kornet fits perfectly into the Spurs' identity. He is as tough as nails and has a real joy in playing basketball. Unlike Kevin Durant, Luke is an excellent team player, and his teammates have shown that they love playing with him.

Not to mention, roster-wise, Kornet was a much smarter add. The biggest hole for the Spurs prior to the offseason was at backup center. San Antonio desperately needed a player that could fill in for Victor Wembanyama and give him the proper rest that he needs. Luke has done more than enough in relief of the Alien.

All of this is to say that the Spurs are lucky to have incredibly intelligent people running things. Who knows where San Antonio would be with Kevin Durant? Maybe they would have been better, but the odds are that this fairy tale season would not have played out the same way.