The Golden State Warriors have reached the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive season, becoming the first team to do so since the 1966 Boston Celtics who made ten straight trips from 1957 to 1966.
Nonetheless, the Warriors haven't gotten this far without adversity.
Golden State’s leading scorer in the playoffs, Kevin Durant (34.2 ppg), injured his calf in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, a series that was tied 2-2.
This sent shockwaves throughout the sports world, with fans losing confidence in the Warriors due to the uncertainty of Durant’s postseason return.
Fortunately for the reigning champs, they have more star power than just Kevin Durant. A return of the Splash Brothers (Steph Curry and Klay Thompson) and All-Star play from Draymond Green carried Golden State to the Finals after a Game 6 clinching win against Houston and a series sweep over Portland.
Steph Curry returned to his MVP caliber play, increasing his playoff average from 23.3 points per game to 34 points per game in Durant’s absence.
As a result of the success of Durant’s teammates during his rehab, sports media has fed the narrative of a disconnect between Durant and the Warriors as he heads into free agency this summer.
Last Friday when Durant spoke to the media for the first time since his injury, one media member asked, referring to Durant's teammates, “How have you thought about their play?” Durant quickly corrected the reporter by stating, “Our play.”
Kevin Durant went on to answer a question about how this disconnect narrative attempts to hinder the unity of the Warriors:
“It’s been that way since I got here — the Warriors and KD. I understand that. I feel like my teammates and organization know exactly what I’ve done here on and off the floor to become part of the culture.”
Durant’s emphasis on team unity and the Warriors' ability to thrive together are similar to the emphasis on the unity of believers in scripture.
In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Apostle Paul urges the believers in Corinth to be unified instead of being drawn into the conflict and division that were present in their church.
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (NIV).
In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays to God the Father for His disciples and for the unity of all believers:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me.
"I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and You in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me” (NIV).
Scripture makes it clear that unity among followers of Jesus is important and helps draw more people into the body of Christ. United followers of Jesus act together in love to reach the hearts of mankind. This is possible when we humble ourselves and are led by the Holy Spirit.
Just like Kevin Durant continues in unity with his team (even while injured), let us pursue unity with other followers of Jesus as we all pursue the same mission of reaching the nations and making disciples.
I’m Luke Heaton and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of Your son, Jesus, that allows me to enter into a relationship with You. I pray that in a world that seems to be disconnected on so many issues, You would allow followers of Jesus to be likeminded and unified. Help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ and eagerly join them in our united mission of making disciples. Help me to overcome the temptation to stir up conflict through words and actions that hinders unity in the body of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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