Kevin Durant
Okay, we will state the obvious argument that any fan makes against Kevin Durant first. “How do you leave a team you were up 3-1 against and a 73 win juggernaut?”
Alright, I put it there just so we can say I know, I know.
Now instead of feeding into the narrative look at what Kevin Durant has become since joining the Warriors. Last year, he legitimized himself as a top ten shot blocker (1.6 BPG) and this year improving more by being inside the top three (2.2 BPG). He showed off all defensive ability on Christmas guarding the best player in the world in LeBron James. *They were fouls, yes* He still had the audacity to go against him throughout the entire game.
The improvement that Durant has shown on the defensive end is completely admirable to where he appropriately has consideration for the best two-way player. Going through plays to showcase his ability to shot block took no time and this proves it.
Durant goes coast to coast blocking Aaron Gordon followed by him being put in a blender for a perfect step back jumper that he should trademark:
Kevin Durant puts Aaron Gordon on skates after blocking him on the other end. Quite a sequence. pic.twitter.com/qUhmUXKed9
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) November 14, 2017
It truly is a beautiful sequence to watch but this is just scratching the surface to what Kevin Durant is on defense.
Durant is all over the court getting multiple blocks in one play on Cj McCollum and Noah Vonleh and proceeding to hit a dirty 3 that sank the Blazers confidence:
Shot blocking should have been apart of his game much sooner than it currently is. The man is nearly a seven footer with a wingspan that is incomprehensible and should have been this way since the Sonics became the Thunder.
Blocking is his brand new art form that has easily solidified him as an early Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He is not only blocking shots inside the paint but even from the perimeter he is a threat. Anthony Tolliver receives a pass from Tobias Harris for a simple catch and shoot three until Kevin Durant goes up for a block:
He sets himself and teammates up for great opportunities every where on the floor because of a simple shot block.
We all know about his beautiful game on offense so there really is no need to explain what he does but I will leave this here for you to experience what confidence looks like:
Tell me you haven’t attempted that same exact play in a pick-up game tied 13 and you need a 2 to win. Kevin Durant did that in the NBA FINALS where it mattered most but because of the narrative he did not intentionally put upon himself the shot was tainted.
But before I decide to patronize you over and over about how great KD is and deserving of positive recognition it is time to look at his team mate.