Players often have issues with members of sports media, they seem to think that media members have no idea what they’re talking about. And while that may be a bit of a stretch, an imminent media personality will give a take once in a while that is bad enough to convince fans that players possibly have a point. I mean, it’s hard to be as wrong about something as Colin Cowherd was about Kevin Durant before the superstar was drafted into the league.
Durant came into the league in 2007 and was chosen 2nd overall by the Seattle Supersonics. In over a decade in the league, KD had established himself as arguably the best scorer of his generation and one of the most elite shooters of all time. He didn’t go 1st in the draft though, that honor was reserved for Greg Oden, who was picked by the Portland Trail Blazers.
And if there was any doubt about the better pick before the draft, there was certainly no doubt after, with Durant winning Rookie Of The Year and going on to become one of the greatest ever, while Oden’s struggle with injuries meant he was never truly able to establish himself in the league. But Cowherd thought picking Oden over Durant was a no-brainer, something he proclaimed loudly at the time.
6/7/2007: One of my all time faves. @ColinCowherd goes IN on Kevin Durant before the Draft after hearing KDs pre-draft camp workout #s pic.twitter.com/MBj9FtgKjM
— Freezing Cold Takes (@OldTakesExposed) June 7, 2018
“Players were rated on how many times they can bench press 185 pounds. That is important. Even though it’s not as important as in the NFL. The NBA season is long, your durability and your core strength is really important. Only one player in the pre-draft camp was unable to bench 185 pounds, Kevin Durant.
“Come on, that is brutal. Greg Oden is faster than Durant in the 3/4 court sprint, he is quicker than Durant in the lane, agility drill and has better numbers in the running and standing vertical jump. Ohh, it’s not even close. The big guy has a much better body and is faster and quicker and more agile than the wing guy? Draft over. Portland’s taking Greg Oden.
“He can’t bench 185 pounds. One guy couldn’t bench a buck 85… You’re telling me I can draft just another wing guy, he’s got Antonio McDyess written all over him. He’ll be a good player, but he’s just a wing guy.”
Considering that what let Greg Oden down was his body and KD has managed to stay at the top for so long, it’s safe to say that Cowherd got this one horribly wrong. While it can be easy to make fun of Durant for being a bit reactive, listening to things like this about yourself, especially when they’re obviously not right, is likely to rub anyone the wrong way.
