Kevin Durant's pursuit of a championship not a new trend

For more than a decade, the NBA has seen some of its biggest stars join forces to create so-called "superteams."

Kevin Durant is the latest, leaving Oklahoma City for the Golden State Warriors. With a lineup already featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the addition of the four-time NBA scoring champion has pundits already proclaiming the Warriors as next season's champions.

Durant made it clear that this move was his best shot at an NBA championship. But as history has shown, rings aren't won on paper.

Here's a look at how past NBA "superteams" have fared:

Brooklyn Nets (2013-14)

In the 2012-13 season, freshly moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn, the Nets finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and looked like a team that might make some noise.

But a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs prompted then general manager Billy King to remake his team, dealing for future Hall-of-Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in a blockbuster deal with the Boston Celtics.

The addition of the duo, combined with the large contracts of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, gave the Nets the highest payroll in the league that season, with all the accompanying expectations.

However, the Nets were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals in five games by the Miami Heat and have never been further since. Pierce left via free agency after that season while Garnett was traded mid-season of the next.

Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13)

With Kobe Bryant in the latter half of his prime, GM Mitch Kupchak acquired all-stars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to make another championship push.

On paper, Nash and Howard were great additions. Nash would be the best point guard Bryant would have had with the Lakers while Howard's credentials as a three-time defensive player-of-the-year was expected to solidify the frontcourt alongside Pau Gasol and shutdown defender Metta World Peace. 

The season, though, became more of a soap opera instead of a Showtime revival, headlined by two coaching changes, injuries to key players, and an unhappy Howard.

The Lakers were swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. Howard bolted for the Houston Rockets in the off-season while injuries limited Nash to just 15 more games before retiring.

Miami Heat (2010-14)

When LeBron James decided to take his talents to South Beach, the Miami Heat became one of the most scrutinized teams in NBA history.

From the rock concert introduction to James' bold declaration of winning "not one, not two, not three..." rings, everything involving the team was magnified.

The Big Three of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and James reached four straight NBA Finals, including back-to-back titles in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 season.

James was named the regular season and Finals MVP in each of those years while Wade and Bosh remained perennial All-Stars.

Boston Celtics (2007-08)

The Boston Celtics went from cellar dwellers to champions in the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history. The 2006-07 season saw the once glorious franchise hit a new low with the league's second-worst record and an 18-game losing streak.

With Paul Pierce already there, GM Danny Ainge went out and acquired Ray Allen and Garnett, instantly transforming the once-proud franchise.

All three players had meaningful contributions in the Celtics' playoff run. Garnett averaged a team-high 20.4 points and 10.5 rebounds, Allen tied a then Finals record with seven three-pointers made in one game, while Pierce averaged a Finals-high 21.8 points and was named MVP.

The trio led the Celtics to one more Finals appearance in the 2009-10 season before Allen left via free agency and Pierce and Garnett were traded to the Nets.

Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04)

One season removed from a three-peat, the Lakers added savvy veterans Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Both were recruited by Shaquille O'Neal and were in search of the ring that had eluded them their entire careers.

A knee injury limited Malone to 42 games (all starts) where he averaged a respectable 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Payton played and started in all 82 games and averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists. 

The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals, but came up short against the Chauncey Billups-led Detroit Pistons in five games.

And that was as good as it got.

Malone never played another NBA game, retiring a year later, while Payton was traded along with Lakers mainstay Rick Fox to the Celtics.

Legendary head coach Phil Jackson resigned in the off-season and the on-going feud between Bryant and O'Neal resulted in the latter being traded.

The following season, the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons.