Kevin Durant is no LeBron James when it comes to winning with less
By Tron Griffin
When it comes to winning with less talent around him, the Golden State Warriors’ recent struggles is proof that Kevin Durant is no LeBron James
Kevin Durant is without a doubt one of the best basketball players in NBA history. He is essentially a 7-footer who can put the ball on the floor, take it to the basket, pull up from anywhere and shoot 3-pointers better than most guards.
Oh yeah, and he can defend almost any player in the league.
For the last few seasons, some in the media has called Durant the best player in the NBA, which can be argued. The former NBA MVP and six-time first-team All-NBA player is averaging 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He has a career average of 27.1 points and 7.1 rebounds a game. Combine those numbers with winning the last two NBA titles and Finals MVP is the reason why the argument is being made.
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I would counter with the argument that LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. To me, he has been the best player in the league for over a decade. The four-time MVP and 12-time first-team All-NBA player is averaging 28.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists a game. He has a career average of 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists a game, but more importantly, he can win with players no one in the league can win with except him.
Last year, James had his Cleveland Cavaliers team in the Finals and barely losing to a loaded Golden State Warriors team with two MVP’s and four All-Star players. Now without James, the Cavs is a high lottery team even with a healthy Kevin Love.
Durant on the other hand, is not even the most important player on his current team. Stephen Curry is without a doubt the most important player on the Warriors. To quote Draymond Green, the Warriors won without him. They went 73-9 without him.
The Warriors is Steph Curry’s team. And Curry is the most important player on the team; something that would not be said if James played for the Warriors.
Even the numbers prove Curry has a bigger impact on the team winning than Durant. Over the last two seasons the Warriors are 119-28 (.810) when both Curry and Durant play, 24-3 (.889) with 21 consecutive wins when Curry plays without Durant, and 25-15 (.625) when Durant plays without Curry.
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This season, the Warriors are 2-6 without Curry. Before Curry got injured, the Warriors were 10-1 and sitting atop the Western Conference. Now without Curry, the Warriors are 12-7 and is sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
I know Kevin Durant is a great player, but there is no way the Warriors would be 2-6 without Curry and on a four game losing streak with James on the team because he is hands down the best player in the NBA.