KD didn't ride Steph's coattails but he did jump on a moving championship train. In the history of sports, there has never been a better player join a better team.
Some people act like KD is on the cusp of being a top 20 player all time. I just don't think he is. You brought up that KD won an MVP. Well, so did Russ who you went on to discount. Awards can be completely misleading. Jerry Sloan never won a Coach of the Year. Hell, Nick Saban has won 5 titles at Alabama before finally winning the coach of the year for this season.
KD is an awesome player, but I think his attitude is an issue. I think he is overrated. He was on the cusp of being an all time great when they were so close to taking down GS. The next year, he bolts and joins the team he choked at beating. I think this Nets experiment will end up badly. I never thought that KD and Kyrie would work. They have more firepower now, but I don't think this will work.