A message on Kevin Durant and NBA “Fans” who dare to question his greatness

I know this is a Philly sports website but it’s mid-November and outside of the Eagles and the G League squad 76ers, news is somewhat slow, so let’s talk about Kevin Durant.

I’ve never quite understood why KD doesn’t get the same level of respect as other NBA legends like LeBron and Steph. We’re talking about a guy who eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball—who might just be the greatest pure scorer the game’s ever seen.

With his height, insane ball-handling skills, and deadly shooting, KD has influenced an entire generation of players trying to master that mix of size and finesse.

Before we even get into it, ask yourself a simple question: how many of these new-era 7-foot wings we see today wouldn’t exist without KD paving the way?

Durant took Dirk’s big-man shooting touch and somehow packaged it into a player with guard-like agility. He’s got that early 2000s post-up and mid-range mastery along with the deep-ball accuracy that defines today’s game.

Durant has essentially unlocked a play style that’s both timeless and perfectly suited for the modern NBA. And this season with Phoenix? KD has been a force yet again.

Kevin Durant haters get called out:

"You have NEVER heard that Kevin Durant is not a leader … this is the guy who's shooting imaginary jumpshots in the club. What gets more 'ball is life' than that?"@AshNicoleMoss has an epic take on people who question KD's leadership. pic.twitter.com/aieN3kuzQy

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 7, 2024

Even with a recent injury scare during the Suns’ thriller over Dallas, he was out there dropping 26 points in 37 minutes, doing exactly what the Suns brought him in to do.

So far, Durant’s averaging 27.6 points per game on ridiculous shooting splits—over 55% from the field and 40% from three. That’s elite territory, joining only Nikola Jokic as the two players this season hitting those marks while scoring over 25 points a game.

But what’s really setting Durant apart this season is his clutch factor. He’s leading the league in crunch-time points with 35 in tight, down-to-the-wire moments.

Thanks to KD’s heroics, Phoenix has been flawless in close games, going 7-0 in contests where the score is within five points in the final five minutes.

The Suns have become just the third team since 1997-98 to reach seven clutch wins in their first nine games. And that’s all KD—his experience, his poise, and his killer instinct have turned this team into a clutch powerhouse.

At 38.8 minutes per game, Durant’s putting in more work than he has since the 2010-11 season. He’s proving he can handle the load, even with the Suns facing age and cap concerns. It’s almost laughable that people thought Phoenix might be too fragile to hold up.

With Durant leading the charge, this team looks every bit like a contender, and he’s showing once again why he’s one of the greatest to ever do it.

Respect is overdue. Kevin Durant’s influence on the game is massive, and this season is just another chapter in a career that deserves to be right up there with the all-time legends.

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