Nike airs 'Debate This' ad after Kevin Durant becomes National Basketball Association champion

On June 15, 2017, Nike released its “Debate This” advertisement after Kevin Durant won his first NBA championship. Durant was named the Finals MVP following the Warriors’ 4-1 series victory. The title capped off a postseason in which the team achieved a 16-1 playoff run, with their only loss occurring in Game 4 of the Finals.

During the series, Durant outscored LeBron James in three of the five games. In Game 3, Durant scored 30 points while going 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. In the Game 4 defeat, he recorded 35 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The postseason run followed a 67-win regular season for the Warriors, during which Durant missed several weeks due to a knee injury. According to reports at the time, some critics had openly doubted Durant, with some nearly cheering his regular-season injury. His move to join the Warriors had faced intense public scrutiny, with some comparing it unfavorably to James’s previous team change, known as the Decision.

Following the final game, James acknowledged the strength of the Warriors roster, stating they were assembled as well as a team could be. Meanwhile, Durant celebrated the championship victory, which marked the second title for teammate Steph Curry.