Drafted second behind Greg Oden, in the second biggest draft blunder behind Jordan and Sam Bowie, by defunct Seattle Supersonics (RIP) Kevin Durant has been second since his professional inception. He has finished second in MVP voting three times (2013, 2012, 2010) all won by Lebron James. In the Thunder's only trip to the finals they finished second to Lebron's Heat. Durant came in second to his own teammate Russell Westbrook in field goals attempted last season, 1433 total to Westbrook's 1535, but not in field goals made giving him the higher percentage. While Durant came in second for the scoring title last year to Carmelo Anthony, he did win the three previous seasons. Durant also joined the 50/40/90 club last season, averaging 50% or higher from the floor, 40% or higher from beyond the arc, and 90% from the free throw line. Durant is unquestionably one of the league's top talents, usually listed by everyone at number, because the reality right now is that Lebron is on a serious tear into history right now, with numbers and accolades that would be hard for anyone to surpass, even the Great One.
Durant enters into his seventh season with his accomplice Westbrook expectedly sidelined for four to six weeks, although recent reports have said he could return within two weeks. While Westbrook has received heavy criticism over the years for seeming like a trigger happy gunner, at times seeming unwilling to defer to the more efficient Durant, he is still one of the top 20 players in the league and represents Oklahoma's only consistent second scoring option. Westbrook has averaged 23.6 ppg over the last three seasons, 7.3 apg and a solid .822 from the line. He has become more of a reliant second option for crunch time and has proven his ability to create his own shot as well as generate and distribute to others. The loss of Westbrook presents a heavy burden for Oklahoma who is still searching for offense after trading away James Harden, a burden that is likely to be shouldered mainly by Durant.
While Durant has always seemed happy to be mentioned in the conversation of best in the league, the general warm aura that he gives off would seem like to crack at some point. Durant stated recently that last season, following his loss in the finals to the Heat, he:
" wasn't going to sleep because I wanted to win so bad. I was screaming at my teammates, at the refs, at the coaches. I got mad because I thought ‘if we have a bad game here, we're not going to win a championship... Last year, I was obsessed with it"
He was charged with 12 technicals last season, uncharacteristically high for him (he totaled five over the first five years of his career combined), and eventually fell short of the conference finals after Westbrook's season ending meniscus tear in the first round. Durant has stated that he will not let his obsession overtake him this year and maintain control over what it is that drives him but the fact that we know it's there and he knows it's there says something.
The idea that Durant is hungry, no longer happy being in the conversation, looking to be the conversation along with the fact that he is now the lone consistent offensive threat in Oklahoma could make for a pretty interesting first month in regards to Durant's stat sheets. The Thunder's schedule this season would seem back heavy as the next five weeks would only see them facing top tier defenses against the Spurs on Nov. 27th and the Pacers on Dec. 8th, with the Warriors on Nov. 14th trying to develop a defensive threat adding Iguadala into their lineup.
Keeping the hobbled Thunder competitive in the strong west may prove difficult over a long period, but with their friendly schedule and a coach seemingly out of ideas and weapons in his arsenal there may be no choice but to defer to Durant and see what kind of madness he's capable of. In his first game of the season, the smallest sample size available I know, Durant scored 42 points in win over the Jazz. He only shot .375 from the field, hitting nine of 24 shots (two of eight from beyond), not stellar numbers sure but he hit 22 or his 24 free throws. Not only is that a phenomenal percentage but it shows he is fearlessly and relentlessly attacking the basket. With such high shooting numbers from the floor last season as well as high numbers from the line Durant has always posed a huge problem as far as defenses are concerned, perhaps the biggest puzzle to solve. It would seem that Scott Brooks letting his top dog off the leash to run amuck might surpass a defensive problem and become downright threatening to opposing teams.
Assuming his career continues along it's current trajectory with no major injuries Durant will go down as one of the most efficient scorers of all time. The longer Russell Westbrook is out rehabbing his knee the harder things may be on his team scrambling to make up the loss of his offense, but if Durant proves able to carry the weight over the next few weeks it could allow Westbrook time to return safely after a full rehabilitation, ultimately better for the team long term into the season, playoffs and beyond. This season would seem ripe for Durant to not only regain his scoring title but to establish himself atop the league, earning himself MVP honors and cementing his legacy in the annals of the NBA. But a potentially more interesting aspect would be the effect it would have on our discussion of Lebron.
Since Lebron James has been a junior in high school, and in all likelihood even earlier, he has been labeled "the chosen one". The "King" that would come and claim the throne that has remained vacant since Jordan retired (although Kobe may have a difference of opinion). By all accounts Lebron has so far stepped up to the lofty challenge. With recent back to back championships on three consecutive trips to the finals, winning the MVP trophy all three years Durant came in second plus one more in 2009 making it four trophys in five seasons. Lebron's list of successes could fill a page, the ultimate conclusion being that as of now, with James only 28 years old, it would seem we could be entering into the age of Lebron (yes, he might just be getting started). It is frighteningly similar to the grasp Jordan and his Bulls seemed to completely hold the league in while he was playing. A generation of great players were unable to attain the coveted gold while Jordan was in the league; Charles Barkley, Malone & Stockton, Chris Mullen, Patrick Ewing (All of which were on the dream team with Jordan), Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkens and so on were all left with holes in their legacies.
While the concept of titles being the defining trait we historically judge players by the relevance is undeniable. I can acknowledge the greatness of players like Elgin Baylor, George Gervin, Walt Bellamy and Pete Maravich through clips but having never seen them actually play in their time I don't truly know them. I know that they never won rings though. I know that names like Bill Russell, Kareem, Magic, and Michael Jordan are all listed as some of the greatest in part by what they were able to accomplish in the finals. I know that Wilt, Bill Russell's counterpoint, and Larry Bird, Magic's counterpoint, are able to be in the conversation because while they may not have the same number of rings as their rivals they got a few themselves. Larry and Magic are forever intertwined as the dominant forces that ruled over the 80's, Magic may have won more rings but they are seen as contemporaries, one of the favorite debates still. Bill Russell was an undeniable force in the NBA, winning 11 total rings with 10 coming in an 11 year stretch between 1959 and 1969, as well as a highly regarded individual off the court but his foil Wilt Chamberlain still is able to remain in the discussion alongside him because he got two, one coming in the midst of Russell's historic run.
If Durant is able to usurp King James from his throne it will leave a massive imprint on both their legacies. The more Durant is able to win in James' reign the more intertwined the two become, ultimately splitting the power between them. Durant has said he wants to be the greatest, remembered as one of the greatest. While he has a great opportunity to show his abilities this year, as the lone gunner in Oklahoma, he is still by and large seen as the overall second best. While winning another scoring title and/or the leagues MVP award would be considered accomplishments for Durant, we should not expect that to satiate his desire. It would seem that any run for greatness Durant looks to make will have to take aim at the current king atop the league. While it will certainly be a struggle, as James himself has made clear his intentions of leaving the game as the greatest to ever play, no shooter in the league is more single handedly equipped with the talent necessary to abdicate the throne.
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