Kevin Durant wasn’t appreciated enough during this year’s NBA Finals. Despite the fact that we got to watch a tremendous battle between two of the best small forwards to play the game, the most common sentiment is how he has tarnished his legacy by joining a 73-win team that defeated his Oklahoma City Thunder last year in the playoffs. Let’s be honest though, who else in NBA history was 7 feet tall, built like the Slender Man, weighed as much as a bag of butterflies, and could still shoot and handle the ball with the best of them? If you know of this player, then please let me know on Twitter @inquiryofball. I’m waiting.
Despite the criticism he receives, fair or not, let’s take a moment to appreciate the play of one of the truly all-time great players of this league.
Shooting
Well, if we are going to appreciate Kevin Durant, then it’s natural to start with his shooting. Kevin Durant has been a prolific shooter since his high school days. He has continued that into his NBA career, where he has made three-point shots look as smooth and easy as layups. It’s an intimidating prospect, a 7-foot perimeter player who can shoot the three-point shot at 38 percent. How do you defend that? Honestly, not many have been able to figure that out. And that’s without even mentioning his silky smooth fadeaway jump shot for two.
Of course, his two-point shooting is just the icing on the cake. I wouldn’t be writing a true Kevin Durant article without one of his signature three-point shots. In game 3 of this year’s Finals he made this iconic lead-taking three-point shot. This is the kind of shot you will someday tell your kids about.
Mobility
One of the more impressive aspects of Durant’s game is how he moves in a very fluid and athletic motion. He glides up and down the court with ease and creates easy baskets in transition. He makes the game easier for his teammates by creating space with his ability to get up and down the court as well as with his shooting ability. He is dangerous no matter where he is, and he had plenty of opportunities to show off these skills in these Finals.
The fact that a guy who is that tall and that athletic can get up and down the court that quickly makes him incredibly deadly. Again, there are not many players who have ever played in the NBA who offer the full arsenal that Kevin Durant does.
The Full Arsenal
Lastly, Kevin Durant is much more than just a scorer. He averaged 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in this year’s NBA Finals. He has the ability to handle the ball, make the right pass, grab the rebound and defend in transition. He is as complete a player as the NBA has ever seen. And those talents have fit in perfectly with the team-oriented Golden State Warriors, a team that allows him to take full advantage of his array of talents.
Along with his offensive skills, his supreme length comes into play on the defensive end. It is extremely difficult for defenders to create space between themselves and Durant. He particularly excels at chase-down blocks and help-side defense. As seen here, he takes Kyrie Irving by surprise with his long reach.
The Legend
The real reason we should appreciate Kevin Durant is due to the fact that we are watching the career of a legend unfold. I’m not telling you to love Kevin Durant or respect his decision to join Golden State. As a Pacers fan who had to watch LeBron and the Heat eliminate my team year after year, I can relate to the superteam dislike. Eventually, however, you just have to sit back and appreciate the amazing players you are watching play the game we love. One of these days, you will be able to say that you watched Kevin Durant and LeBron James go at each other in the Finals, just as generations in the past brag about watching Jordan vs. Thomas or Bird vs. Magic. And now KD has a ring and a Finals MVP to go along with it all.
You only get so many chances to watch a generational talent such as KD, so enjoy it while you can!
