- Kevin Durant is one of the greatest scorers ever, but his career is controversial
- Very few players had to overcome obstacles like Hakeem Olajuwon
- The career comparison between the two legends will come down to fine margins
When it comes to the annals of basketball history, the names Kevin Durant and Hakeem Olajuwon stand as beacons of excellence in their respective eras. While these two legendary athletes played in vastly different positions and eras of the game, their impact and accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the sport.
But which superstar and Hall of Fame player had the better overall career? Obviously, Hakeem Olajuwon is retired, and Kevin Durant is still going strong as he aims to compete in his 16th season. It is time to compare the careers of Kevin Durant, the versatile scoring maestro of the modern game, and Hakeem Olajuwon, the iconic center whose skills and dominance reigned during a different era.
From their playing styles to their achievements on and off the court, we delve into the numbers and narratives that define their legacies and contribute to the eternal debate of how different generations of basketball talent measure up. Here is which superstar player comes out on top in the iconic career comparison.
NBA Championships
Kevin Durant: 2 (2017, 2018)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 2 (1994, 1995)
Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon had a storied career with the Houston Rockets. He won back-to-back NBA championships in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. These titles were the pinnacle of Olajuwon’s career and showcased his dominance as both a scorer and a defensive force. The Rockets’ championship runs were characterized by Olajuwon’s incredible post moves, shot-blocking prowess, and all-around skills. His battles against other legendary big men like David Robinson and Patrick Ewing during those playoff runs further solidified his legacy. Olajuwon’s leadership and multifaceted game were central to the Rockets’ success, earning him both NBA Finals MVP awards for his outstanding performances.
Kevin Durant, a modern-day scoring sensation, secured his NBA titles as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Durant joined the Warriors in 2016 and played a pivotal role in their championship runs during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. His arrival added a new dimension to an already formidable 73-9 team led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, and his ability to score from anywhere on the court was instrumental in the Warriors’ success. Similar to Olajuwon, Durant earned NBA Finals MVP honors in both championship-winning campaigns, underlining his impact and importance to the team’s success. In the end, even if Durant joined a 73-9 team to win his rings, the number of championship accolades are the same.
Advantage: Even
Finals MVP Awards
Kevin Durant: 2 (2017, 2018)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 2 (1994, 1995)
Kevin Durant made an immediate impact in his first season with the Warriors, helping them capture the championship by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers. He showcased his scoring prowess, averaging 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in the Finals. Durant’s ability to score from anywhere on the court and his defensive contributions were key in securing the title.
A year later, Durant continued his exceptional play in the Finals, leading the Warriors to another championship victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. Durant’s versatility, playmaking, and defensive impact once again played a crucial role in the Warriors’ success.
Meanwhile, Olajuwon led the Rockets to their first-ever NBA championship, defeating the New York Knicks. He showcased his versatility and dominance, averaging 26.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 3.9 blocks per game during the Finals. Olajuwon’s ability to score in the post, block shots, and contribute in various facets of the game made him a force to be reckoned with.
Hakeem followed up his championship performance with another stellar showing in the Finals, leading the Rockets to their second consecutive title. He displayed his all-around skills once again, averaging 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game against the Orlando Magic. Olajuwon’s exceptional playmaking for a big man was a key factor in his team’s success against another dominant center in Shaquille O’Neal.
Advantage: Even
MVP Awards
Kevin Durant: 1 (2014)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 1 (1994)
Kevin Durant was named the league’s MVP for his exceptional performance during the 2013-14 season. He showcased his scoring prowess, averaging 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while winning his fourth scoring title. Durant’s ability to score from anywhere on the court, coupled with his improved playmaking and leadership, led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a strong 59-23 record. Unfortunately, Durant could not make the NBA Finals as the Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals later in the year.
Despite his greatness, Hakeem Olajuwon only won the MVP award once in the regular season. Olajuwon was recognized as the league’s most valuable player for his outstanding performance during the 1993-94 season, showcasing his dominance on both ends of the court, averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. Olajuwon’s versatility, shot-blocking ability, and exceptional footwork in the post made him a force to be reckoned with, leading the Houston Rockets to the NBA championship that same season after winning 58 games.
Advantage: Even
Defensive Player Of The Year Awards
Kevin Durant: 0
Hakeem Olajuwon: 2 (1993, 1994)
Kevin Durant has not won a Defensive Player of the Year award, and in actuality, never even made an All-Defensive Team selection. The superstar forward has had such a heavy scoring role, averaging nearly 19.0 field-goal attempts per game over his career. Even if Durant was at his personal best defensively with the Golden State Warriors, when he had superstar help offensively, he was never quite known as a consistent defensive stopper.
Olajuwon’s remarkable shot-blocking ability, defensive rebounding, and overall defensive versatility as a center made him a perennial presence on the All-Defensive Teams. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1993 and 1994, posting 4.2 blocks per game and 3.7 blocks per game, respectively. Other than the iconic Bill Russell, who was the greatest defensive stopper in his era, Hakeem might be the greatest defender ever with two Defensive Player of the Year trophies despite also being the best post-scorer of all time.
Advantage: Hakeem Olajuwon
Scoring Titles
Kevin Durant: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 0
Kevin Durant, a modern-day scoring sensation, has secured the NBA scoring title four times. The first came in the 2009-10 season with an average of 30.1 points per game. The following season, Durant followed up with a second scoring title, averaging 27.7 points per game. For the third-straight season, the Oklahoma City Thunder star secured his third scoring title during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, averaging 28.0 points per game. After a year hiatus, Durant would go on to capture his fourth scoring title with a remarkable average of 32.0 points per game.
Durant’s scoring titles underscore his incredible ability to put up points in a variety of ways, from long-range shooting to mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket. His consistent scoring prowess has made him one of the most formidable offensive players of his generation. In terms of raw scoring talent, the superstar could be the most potent scorer ever.
Olajuwon’s scoring title highlighted his versatility as a big man and his ability to dominate in the post while contributing across various facets of the game. However, despite having his best scoring seasons in 1995 and 1994, averaging 27.8 points and 27.3 points per game respectively, the center never won a scoring title in his career. Olajuwon was mainly a two-way stopper and was also a capable playmaker, meaning he was never focused on shooting the ball every time with the Houston Rockets. In the end, this provides a major advantage to Kevin Durant.
Advantage: Kevin Durant
All-NBA Teams
Kevin Durant: 10 (6 First Team, 4 Second Team)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 12 (6 First Team, 3 Second Team, 3 Third Team)
Kevin Durant’s 10 All-NBA Team selections showcase his remarkable offensive prowess and versatility. His selections align closely with the modern era’s emphasis on perimeter scoring and the evolving role of forwards. Durant’s multiple selections, including six First Team honors, highlight his status as one of the most prolific scorers of his generation. His ability to score from anywhere on the court, including his lethal mid-range and three-point shooting, has consistently put him among the league’s top offensive players. Considering Durant is only 34 years old, he has time to surpass Olajuwon in total All-NBA appearances.
Hakeem Olajuwon’s 12 All-NBA Team selections underline his status as one of the most dominant and versatile centers in NBA history. His selections spanned different eras, showcasing his ability to excel and adapt across changing styles of play. Olajuwon’s presence on the First Team for the majority of his selections speaks to his consistency as a top-tier player. Despite playing in an era with other elite centers such as Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing, Hakeem managed to make 12 All-NBA Teams and has the edge over Durant in this category.
Advantage: Hakeem Olajuwon
All-Star Selections
Kevin Durant: 13
Hakeem Olajuwon: 12
Kevin Durant’s All-Star selections reflect his status as one of the premier offensive talents of his generation. The superstar has been selected to the NBA All-Star Game 13 times mainly due to his popularity and greatness as a scoring threat. His capacity to put up points from anywhere on the court, whether through three-point shooting, mid-range jumpers, or drives to the basket, consistently made him a go-to scorer in the All-Star setting.
Durant’s All-Star selections span his tenure with different teams, illustrating his ability to seamlessly integrate his scoring prowess into various rosters. His selections came while playing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Brooklyn Nets, showcasing his versatility and adaptability.
Meanwhile, Olajuwon’s selections reflect his trailblazing impact as a versatile center during an era where traditional big men were dominant. His presence in the All-Star games showcased his ability to blend size with skill. He possessed exceptional footwork, post moves, and a soft touch around the basket, allowing him to score effectively. His inclusion in All-Star games demonstrated that a big man could possess the finesse and skill typically associated with guards and forwards. As great as Hakeem was, the edge has to go to Kevin Durant as the forward will continue adding to his selections.
Advantage: Kevin Durant
All-Defense Team Selections
Kevin Durant: 0
Hakeem Olajuwon: 9 (5 First Team, 4 Second Team)
Kevin Durant has not made a single All-Defensive Team appearance, and as he approaches 35 years old, it is very unlikely he ever gets a chance to make the All-Defenisve Team. Despite being nearly 7 feet tall with long arms and high basketball IQ, Durant never did enough to convince voters that he belonged on an All-Defensive Team, and while that isn’t the worst thing in the world for his career, it is not the best look when trying to place him among the 15 greatest players ever.
Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon made nine All-Defensive Teams with five First Team selections. A shot-blocker with a career average of 1.7 steals and 3.1 blocks per game, no player in history accumulated as many blocks as Olajuwon, and the Nigerian was simply a suffocating defender. He had the footwork and speed to recover on defense, punish slower bigs, and also assist his guards when the opponents get to the rim. Bill Russell and Dennis Rodman are two names that get mentioned in the GOAT conversations for defenders, but it might have to go to Hakeem Olajuwon when taking into account his stats, accolades, and eye test. No surprise, he has the edge over Kevin Durant.
Advantage: Hakeem Olajuwon
Total Win Shares
Kevin Durant: 161.9
Hakeem Olajuwon: 162.8
Win Shares is a statistic that tries to allocate a team’s wins for each player on the roster. For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar owns the single-season record for Win Shares with 25.4 during 1971-72 on a Milwaukee Bucks team that won 63 games. In terms of contributing to a winning side and helping his side to win games consistently, it is obvious Hakeem Olajuwon slightly edges Kevin Durant.
Durant has a win shares rating of 161.9, a solid figure but clearly slightly less than Olajuwon’s. Kevin’s win share ranks 21st all-time, and while he has time to boost this number higher, his figure stands where it is. The superstar forward is obviously a player that impacts winning as the most dominant scorer of his generation, but this particular statistic does not reflect that when comparing him to the Nigerian superstar.
Olajuwon’s win share rating ranks 19th all-time, which is a testament to his greatness. The big man influences the game in various ways, including having a high field goal percentage and defensive stats, while his rebounding was off the charts. Hakeem’s win share rating is very impressive, and it blows most players out of the water except for those ahead of him. Regardless, in this category, Olajuwon has the edge over Durant.
Advantage: Hakeem Olajuwon
Career Player Efficiency Rating
Kevin Durant: 25.3
Hakeem Olajuwon: 23.6
Player Efficiency Rating, better known as PER, is a statistic created by John Hollinger, whose goal is to give each NBA player a comprehensive rating. Hollinger’s PER metric is unique because it combines a player’s positive and negative contributions on the court.
With a PER of 25.3, Kevin Durant is the 9th-best player of all time, according to the statistic. Durant’s numbers are beyond elite for his career, posting 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 49.9% shooting from the field. Durant was dominant on the court because there was no answer for him when it came to stopping the forward for creating his shot. The current star ranks among the top 10 in PER, a truly respectable statistic.
Hakeem Olajuwon ranks 21st all-time with a PER of 23.6. Hakeem has a positive influence on winning due to his incredible two-way skill set. The center managed to have shooting splits of 51.2% FG and 71.2% FT while averaging a career 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. Given that Olajuwon played for 18 years and consistently discovered ways to improve his performance in the biggest games, he is simply elite on any level. Even though, Durant has the edge over Olajuwon.
Advantage: Kevin Durant
Final Score
Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Kevin Durant 4-3
Even if the career comparison is extremely close, with Hakeem Olajuwon only edging out Kevin Durant in one category, the Nigerian center simply had a more fulfilling and successful career than the superstar forward. The reason? Hakeem Olajuwon never took any shortcuts.
Olajuwon had to win back-to-back NBA titles without the presence of other superstar players and had to do it the hard way. The Rockets were never favored once during any Finals run and had to overcome a supreme amount of odds to actually get over the hump. In 1994, the Rockets had to overcome a 7-game series in the second round against the Phoenix Suns and also win a 7-game series against the slightly favored New York Knicks.
A year later, Olajuwon had to carry the Rockets to the Finals despite only winning 47 games, once again surviving the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the second round and eventually sweeping the Shaquille O’Neal-led Orlando Magic in the Finals. Olajuwon’s championships mean far more than Durant’s, who simply joined a 73-9 team to win two favored championships.
Even beyond the analysis of what happened, Olajuwon had a better career in our ultimate career comparison. While Durant is certainly the better scorer, as he might be the greatest offensive talent to ever play, Hakeem edges him when it comes to defense and total All-NBA selections, along with more career wins. Olajuwon played 18 years in the league, and as of right now, he has the edge in longevity, as Durant has only completed 15 seasons.
As a result, Hakeem had three more years to accumulate All-NBA Teams and career wins, and both of those stats could one day end up in Durant’s favor. Until then, based on our analysis and the weight of championships, Hakeem Olajuwon has had a greater career than Kevin Durant.
