Kevin Durant is one of the 3 greatest small forwards in NBA history. After LeBron James and Larry Bird, no superstar comes close to Durant’s impact on an NBA game at his position. Durant has had a ton of success in his career, winning 2 NBA championships with a superteam Golden State Warriors squad and 2 Finals MVPs.
Durant also captured the MVP in 2014 after dominating the league with his scoring ability. Unfortunately for the superstar forward, he suffered an Achilles injury 2 years ago and was forced to miss the entire 2020 season. He has come back with a vengeance this season, and many wonder if Durant’s season this year is better than his MVP season in 2014. It’s time to find out.
MVP Kevin Durant Had A Case For Being The Best Player In The World Over LeBron James
2014 was the year the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in 5 games in the NBA Finals. LeBron James happened to be on the losing end to a rampant Spurs squad led by Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, and Gregg Popovich. 2014 was also the year that Kevin Durant won league MVP and led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Durant averaged 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 5.5 APG while shooting 50.3% from the field and 39.1% from three. Durant was also money from the stripe, shooting 87.3%. Adding in his 1.3 SPG and 0.7 BPG average, Durant was the best player in the regular-season ahead of LeBron James. While Durant could not win in the postseason, falling to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, he was unstoppable on offense and was in his absolute prime physically.
2021 Kevin Durant Has Overcome All Odds To Return To His Best Form
Kevin Durant has done the impossible. After a severe injury that many deem career-ending, Kevin Durant has found a way to work hard and return to his best form. In 15 games this season, Durant has averaged 30.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 5.5 APG. His numbers jump out the paper when looking at his shooting numbers, closely reminiscent of his prime years. Durant is shooting
51.7% from the field, 44.4% from three, and 86.0% from the free-throw line.
Durant’s three-point shooting is the best part of his game, as he is shooting the highest percentage in his career. Durant’s second-best season came in his second season where he shot 42.2% from three. KD has been one of the top three MVP contenders in the world alongside LeBron James and Joel Embiid this season, and he has been the best player on a superteam since day 1. Durant has led the Nets ahead of Kyrie Irving and James Harden to 13 wins and the second-best record in the East.
MVP Kevin Durant Was Better, Even If The Numbers Disagree
Kevin Durant’s numbers in 2021 are slightly better than his MVP season when looking at his shooting percentages. Durant’s numbers from three are at a very high level, and he is nailing over half his shots from the field. Durant is averaging double the amount of blocks, 1.4 to 0.7, and similar rebounds and assists. But even with shooting percentages on his side, MVP Kevin Durant was a better player.
Kevin Durant was in his absolute prime in 2014, and there was no stopping him at any point in the game. In a league run by LeBron James, Kevin Durant was the only player that has an argument for being better than The King. As good as Durant is in 2021, he is nowhere near as good as LeBron James right now. Durant is slightly slower and does not have the capability of carrying a franchise on his own as he did in 2014. Durant has a better team right now than he did in 2014 with Irving, Harden, and shooters like Joe Harris.
Durant’s numbers and shooting percentages might be good this season, but in 2014 Kevin Durant was a special force and might be the best version of The Slim Reaper that we have seen.
Credit for the idea: Slam Studios
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