Kevin Durant may be headed to his fifth NBA team, but that hasn’t stopped him from jumping into the NFL GOAT debate, and this time, he’s made his pick loud and clear.
Kevin Durant Picks Ravens Legend in Greatest Linebacker Debate
The two-time NBA champion took to social media on Monday and responded to a fan’s question about the greatest linebacker of all time. Durant didn’t post a name, but the message couldn’t have been more obvious. He dropped a GIF of Ray Lewis breaking into his iconic pregame dance in a Ravens jersey, and the internet ran with it.
Over 2.2 million views later, the clip added fuel to an already heated football conversation, all while Durant found himself in the middle of a legacy war of his own.
https://t.co/68CfYdYKjg pic.twitter.com/IVU5dG1KWB
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 23, 2025
Durant’s linebacker pick wasn’t just a casual opinion but also a subtle jab. The fan’s comment had been posted under a video from Emmanuel Acho, who had just questioned whether Durant’s legacy has been “watered down” following his trade to the Houston Rockets.
Durant clapped back in a hurry, saying, “According to The Great Kevin Durant’s legacy formula that was created in the best labs at MIT, Emmanuel is the worst linebacker of all time.”
Durant made his linebacker point while dragging Acho’s football credibility, turning the analyst’s own former NFL career into the punchline. If Durant was looking to brush off the criticism, he did it with style.
Legacy Questions Follow Durant to Houston
Durant’s trade to the Rockets has once again raised debates about his place in basketball history. Acho’s formula, championships won divided by teams played for, hasn’t been kind to the 15-time All-Star.
By that math, Durant’s two rings across five teams don’t stack up to legends like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. And unlike Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokić, he hasn’t brought a title to a team he built from the ground up.
But there’s still time.
Durant nearly pulled it off in Oklahoma City in 2012, and now he’ll try again in Houston with a young core around him. The Rockets finished 52-30 last season and reached the second seed in the Western Conference before falling to Golden State in the first round. If he can lead the Rockets to a title, the narrative may flip in his favor once again.
In the meantime, he’s keeping the energy up, not just on social media, but on the court. Just 24 hours after the blockbuster deal, Durant was already back in the gym, putting in work.
And if he’s right about Ray Lewis being the greatest linebacker ever, maybe he’s hoping to channel some of that Hall of Fame grit for his own late-career resurgence.
Lewis, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion, anchored one of the greatest defenses in NFL history during his 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens.
Durant’s choice carries weight beyond just football knowledge. Lewis epitomized leadership and intensity, qualities that Durant will need to harness as he looks to bring his first championship to Houston and silence the critics questioning his legacy.