Kevin Durant continues to redefine excellence on the basketball court as he approaches the illustrious 30,000-point milestone in his career. The 7-foot-tall forward, renowned for his unparalleled scoring ability, remains a dynamic force in the NBA. With a career spanning multiple teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns, Durant has consistently been a dominant presence. His versatility as a three-level scorer allows him to score effortlessly from the post, mid-range, and beyond the three-point line, making him a perennial threat on the court.
Durant's high shooting percentage and efficiency underscore his prowess. He often shoots above 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range, a testament to his exceptional skill and work ethic. Durant's ability to get by defenders with quick moves, whether through a jab or a catch-and-rip maneuver, leaves opponents struggling to contain him. As he continues to perform at an elite level at the age of 36, averaging 27.1 points per game this season, his impact on the game remains undeniable.
Durant's journey to becoming one of basketball's greatest scorers began early in his career. By the age of 25, he had already secured four NBA scoring titles and earned the coveted MVP award for the 2013-14 season. Despite suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during the 2019 playoffs, Durant's resilience and determination have kept him at the forefront of the sport.
"He's a pure basketball player, so he's not going to take bad shots although he has every right to, and nobody would say anything to him if he wants to." – Tyronn Lue
The respect Durant garners from both teammates and opponents speaks volumes about his influence on the game. Tyus Jones highlights Durant's versatility, stating,
"You put smaller guys on him, he shoots over the top of them. Put bigger guys on him, he's going to make them dance. So it's just a mismatch and he scores very, very effortlessly."
Jones further emphasizes Durant's efficiency by noting that he consistently shoots at a high clip in both practice and games.
"Practice, games — he shoots at a high clip all the time. It's very impressive and it's motivating to be around that, to be around the greatness of that and to see his work ethic. He — knock on wood — rarely has an off night. He's able to get to his spots, he scores at every level, different ways, going right, going left. So I would say the efficiency is just the most impressive. He's not shooting a ton of shots to score a bunch of points." – Tyus Jones
Durant's ability to maintain a high level of efficiency despite being a volume shooter is something that sets him apart in the league.
"Obviously he's a volume shooter, but the efficiency of how he scores, it's not like he's going 6-for-25. He's going a cool 13-for-19, 14-for-20. It's not like people are making him miss. If he misses, it's because he missed. And he makes a lot of tough shots." – Jeff Green
The admiration for Durant extends beyond his scoring ability; it also encompasses his strategic approach to the game.
"KD's post-up game — midpost and at the elbow — I think that's what he's mastered. He mastered that from having a lot of battles in the Western Conference against Dirk Nowitzki. Then you see him add so much to his game. Whether that's the turnaround over both shoulders, whether that's the one-legged fadeaway. I think adding that to his game helped him elevate in all other areas. Once he mastered that, eight out of 10 times it's going in or he's going to the foul line." – Kendrick Perkins
Teammates like Bradley Beal and Devin Booker marvel at Durant's unique talent.
"You try not to be a fanboy, but it's amazing to see for sure." – Bradley Beal
"We've never seen it before. Everyone tries to emulate it, and we still haven't seen it. So he's just a one-of-a-kind type player and the greatest scorer to ever live." – Devin Booker
Royce O'Neale describes Durant as the toughest player he's had to guard due to his strength and skill.
"He's stronger than you think and he looks. He uses his body and his athleticism to shoot over you, to get to the elbows. His hesi pull, you might know it's coming, but he's still getting it off. It's just all the hard work and routine for him and the craft that he puts in. Once he gets there, you better hope he misses, but it's tough. You can't block it. It's a high-arching shot. I always say he's the toughest player I've had to guard." – Royce O'Neale
Kyrie Irving likens Durant's scoring precision to that of a scientist.
"He's a scientist out there. He's always hovering around 50/40/90. Man, he's like an efficient machine when it comes to breaking down how he goes about scoring and doing it for so long." – Kyrie Irving
Spencer Dinwiddie echoes these sentiments by highlighting Durant's unmatched skill set.
"He's just really good at, no matter where he is at on the floor, just kind of getting square up to the basket and then shooting with a high release point. And obviously you're not going to block it. The balance, the rhythm and all that stuff, it's just something you've never seen from a 7-footer before. KD's just pure skill. He's just smooth. We ain't never seen nothing like it. We probably never will, to be honest." – Spencer Dinwiddie
Stephen Curry admires Durant's talent and work ethic.
"Pure talent and work ethic. I mean, it doesn't happen by accident. He's been blessed with a certain skill set with his height. You can't really rush him. He can see over pretty much most defenders. And if there's a taller guy on, he can use his counters and all that to get good looks. But you have to worry about all three levels, and he can put it on the floor, too. So it's kind of pick your poison." – Stephen Curry
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