Kevin Durant, a Phoenix Suns star known for his pivotal role in the Golden State Warriors‘ championship dynasty, recently stirred up conversation with his choice of a “perfect” starting five.

Despite his history with the Warriors, where he won two NBA titles alongside Stephen Curry, Durant’s latest picks for the best current NBA players notably excluded his former teammate.

In a recent appearance on the “Boardroom” show, Durant was asked to assemble his ideal lineup from active NBA players.

His choices were Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, himself, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Durant favored Embiid over Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic due to Embiid’s superior three-point shooting ability.

Surprisingly, Durant included Klay Thompson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, in his starting five.

“I’d probably go with Luka Doncic at the point. Luka, me, LeBron, Embiid at my five because Embiid can shoot the three better than Nikola Jokic. Then you gotta go with someone like Klay Thompson. He’s 6’7, shooting that thing like that,” Durant explained to the Boadroom.

How did fans react to Curry’s omission?

Durant‘s omission of Curry from his ideal lineup has sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Fans and sports analysts have expressed surprise and humor at Curry’s exclusion, given their shared success with the Warriors.

During their three seasons together, the Warriors achieved a remarkable 67-15 record and a 16-1 playoff run in their first year.

The exclusion of Curry from Durant‘s lineup has led to lively discussions about the criteria for selecting top players and highlights the dynamic nature of NBA talent assessments.

Despite the playful controversy, Durant‘s choices underscore his view of the league’s top talent and add to the ongoing debate about the best players in the game today.