Kevin Durant’s 2021 Game-7 Shot: ESPN Maps 17 Hypothetical Shifts Across the NBA
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An ESPN feature published on March 10, 2026 imagines how the NBA might look if Kevin Durant’s last-second jumper in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals had counted as a three-pointer rather than a two. Writer Zach Kram outlines 17 cascading outcomes that would have unfolded had Durant’s foot been behind the line against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Immediate Consequence: Brooklyn Wins the 2020-21 Championship
Under the scenario, Durant’s shot gives Brooklyn a one-point victory over Milwaukee, propelling the Nets past the Atlanta Hawks in the conference finals and the Phoenix Suns in six games to claim the franchise’s first title.
Legacy Boosts for Durant and James Harden
Durant secures a third Finals MVP trophy—joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James as multi-team winners—while Harden sheds his playoff-underachiever label by contributing despite a hamstring injury. Head coach Steve Nash also earns a ring that eluded him as a player.
Team USA Falls in Tokyo
Because of the extended postseason and a heavier workload, Durant declines to play in the COVID-delayed 2020 Olympics. Without his 20.7 points per game, Team USA loses the gold-medal match to France, where Rudy Gobert is named tournament MVP.
Harden Stays in Brooklyn
The title run keeps Harden from requesting the February 2022 trade he asked for in reality, preventing Ben Simmons from moving to the Nets and changing the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans.
Sixers Land Tyrese Haliburton
Unable to acquire Harden, Philadelphia ships Simmons to Sacramento for Tyrese Haliburton, pairing him with Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt.
Bucks Acquire Myles Turner
Milwaukee, seeking frontcourt help while Brook Lopez recovers from back surgery, trades for Indiana center Myles Turner at the 2022 deadline but still loses to Boston in the playoffs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins the Knicks
Frustrated after another postseason exit and with the Bucks short on future assets, Antetokounmpo requests a move. In July 2022 he heads to New York for Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and multiple first-round picks.
Lakers Reunite LeBron James and Kyrie Irving
When Irving asks out of Brooklyn in February 2023, the Lakers send Russell Westbrook, Max Christie and two first-round selections to the Nets, creating a James-Irving-Anthony Davis trio in Los Angeles.
Westbrook, Durant and Harden Reunited
Westbrook’s arrival places him alongside former Oklahoma City teammates Durant and Harden in Brooklyn for the first time since 2012.
Philadelphia Reaches the 2023 East Finals
Haliburton’s late-game poise helps the 76ers defeat the Nets in Round 2, sending Philadelphia to its first conference finals since 2001. The Knicks, powered by Antetokounmpo, upset Boston on the other side of the bracket.
Nuggets Defeat Knicks in the 2023 NBA Finals
Nikola Jokić and Denver replicate their real-world dominance, beating New York for the championship.
Suns Trade for Damian Lillard
With Durant unavailable, new Suns governor Mat Ishbia targets Portland star Damian Lillard in summer 2023, pairing him with Devin Booker instead of Bradley Beal.
Timberwolves Reach First Finals in 2024
Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and a more highly regarded Gobert lift Minnesota over Dallas in the West. Boston wins another seven-game classic to earn the 2024 title, but Towns remains in Minneapolis rather than being traded to New York.
Lakers Hire Nick Nurse, Keep Luka Dončić in Dallas
After firing Darvin Ham, Los Angeles lands Nick Nurse. The earlier Irving deal removed assets the Lakers would later need for Dončić, leaving the Mavericks’ franchise player in place.
Indiana Misses Its 2025 Finals Berth
Without Haliburton, the Pacers fall short of the surprising title series they reached in reality, while Cleveland and New York control the conference.
Kings’ Playoff Drought Extends to 20 Seasons
Ben Simmons replaces Domantas Sabonis in Sacramento, but the move fails to end what becomes a two-decade absence from postseason play.
Chicago Wins the 2025 Lottery and Drafts Cooper Flagg
Dallas finishes above .500 with Dončić, pushing Chicago into the favorable lottery position the Mavericks held in reality. With 1.8% odds, the Bulls jump to No. 1 and select highly touted forward Cooper Flagg.
The ESPN piece concludes that a single inch on Durant’s sneaker would have altered four championship matchups, redirected numerous stars and rewritten modern NBA history.
Source: ESPN
