On this day 25 years ago, I can only imagine that God woke up and said, “Ya know what? Let’s see what would happen if I make a near seven-foot human who can play basketball like a 6-3 shooting guard; a man with enough natural talent to avoid any form of lifting until he becomes a seasoned pro.” And then Kevin Durant was born.
Although he’s not as physically dominating as LeBron, Durant poses as his biggest threat to the “Best Player Alive” Throne, and is the only player who makes shooting the basketball look as monotonous as tying shoes is to the normal human being. Durant has averaged 20-plus PPG since being drafted by what once was the Seattle Sonics. Boasting career averages of 26.6 PPG, 6.8 RBG and 3.1 APG, he is no doubt a bonafide superstar. He has also spent the last few seasons expanding his game; no longer is he just the best volume shooter, he now is a player capable of getting others involved as a playmaker, and even grabs a fair share of rebounds.
As the four-time All-NBA and All-Star selection enters his prime, Durant (along with teammate Russell Westbrook) is looking for his first NBA title this upcoming season. But before the season begins, let’s celebrate KD’s 25th birthday by looking at the Durantula’s best moments. (On a quick side note: that nickname has to be on the NBA Mount Rushmore of worst nicknames, along with Joel Przybilla‘s “The Vanilla Gorilla.”)
*** *** ***
25. MVP of the 2006 McDonald’s All American Game
Back when he was a young’n, Durant first put the world on notice after putting up 25 points while only playing 18 minutes.
24. TEX vs. COL 2007
In his freshmen year at Texas, Durant looked like a man amongst boys, especially in this one. In a 102-78 Texas win, Durant finished with 37 points and 16 rebounds.
23. TEX vs. TEX TECH 2007
Sticking with the theme here, Durant put up another monster game of 37 and 23 rebounds in a 76-64 Longhorns win.
22. Big 12/NCAA Tournament
Although the Durant-led Longhorns were upset by USC in the second round, you can hardly place the blame on KD after he averaged 28.5 points and 9.6 rebounds with 12 blocks and 12 steals in five games (two NCAA plus three Big 12 Tournament games). Durant was simply dominant.
21. The College Awards
To save some room I’m grouping all of his awards into one (he has quite a few). He was voted Player of the Year by SI.com, ESPN.com and the Sporting News, AP Player of the Year, a bunch more… and finally the Naismith Award (the basketball equivalent to the Heisman): becoming the first freshman to ever win the award.
20. SEA vs. ATL 2007
We’re on to the rookie year! Although this one featured an odd player coming out as the star (Damien Wilkins scored 41… no really), this game featured Durant’s first game-winner in the second overtime period, giving the Sonics a 126-123 victory over the Hawks. The legacy had begun.
19. SEA Vs. GSW 2007
In the last game of his rookie season, Durant put together his best performance, scoring 42 points with a career-high 13 rebounds (while shooting 72 percent from the field, which on its own is outrageous enough). To top it off, Seattle won the game, and Durant sent the Supersonics off into the NBA sunset the right way.
18. 2007-2008 Rookie of the Year
Okay, so his biggest competition just so happened to have the knees of an 80-year-old man (Greg Oden), but Durant still beat up on his class (which included Mike Conley, Al Horford, Jeff Green, Joakim Noah and the legendary Sun Yue) and veterans alike on his way to being just the third teenager to average 20 PPG. This also has to make the list simply in honor of the Supersonics, who would cease to exist after the year.
17. OKC vs. IND 2008
In the newly formed OKC Thunder’s first season, Durant, now flanked by a young Westbrook, formed the base of what would become the powerhouse they are today. In this game, a loss to the Pacers, Durant exploded for 37 points and eight rebounds. Remember, the road to the top was bumpy, as the Thunder struggled early and often (Johan Petro and Earl Watson were starters, if that tells you anything).
16. OKC vs. GSW 2008
Durant’s hobbies include rapping, playing video games, and apparently also includes destroying the Golden State Warriors whenever possible. Durant put up a well-rounded 41 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists (while shooting a blistering 55.6 percent and 60 percent from beyond the three-point line). Durant could not be stopped in this one.
15. OKC vs. LAC 2009
Durant carried the bulk of the offense in this one; a matchup of two teams that are totally rebuilt nowadays. The pre-Paul Clippers (starting gems like Al Thornton, Mardy Collins and the immortal Ricky Davis) forced Durant to shoot a low percentage in this one (43.5 percent) but allowed him to go to the free throw line an astounding 26 times (Durant made 24) on his way to scoring 46 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
14. OKC vs. NOH 2009
The last highlighted game from his second season; Durant lost a heartbreaker to none other than Chris Paul in this 100-98 Hornet win. Durant finished with 47 points, and gave a much better Hornets team a late-season scare. With Westbrook now starting, the foundation was in place for the Thunder over the long run.
13. 2010 FIBA Championship/Olympics 2012
I know what you’re thinking; it’s just the World Championship, who cares. My response? We hadn’t won in 16 years! Durant joined the USA program that claimed gold in the tournament, and broke all the scoring records on the way. He broke the single-game scoring record when he put up 38 points against Lithuania, and broke the tournament scoring average mark with his 22.8 average. Entering his fourth season, Durant solidified his lofty status among the greats at the top of the NBA landscape. Then during the Olympics of 2012, Durant broke the record for most points scored during the tourney. Not to shabby if you ask me.
12. Durant scores 30-plus in 12 out of 14 straight games
Durant has always been known for his ability to put up major point totals from time to time, but now in his third season, he began to do it on a routine basis. From games 27-40, Durant put together one of his most impressive streaks, scoring at least 30 points in 12 out of 14 games (nine of those resulting in Thunder wins). Over this stretch, Durant averaged 32.7 PPG and 7.4 RBG while shooting an outstanding 55.8 and 53.2 percent from three.
11. Durant scores 30-plus… again
With the Thunder on their way to their first ever playoff appearance, Durant finished out the regular season on a high note, scoring 30 or more points in the last seven games. Over that stretch he put together 36.3 PPG, 8.3 RBG, and even 3.6 APG. Durant was well on his way to becoming the premier go-to scorer he is today.
10. 2011 Playoffs Game 1 Vs. DEN
Durant was an animal the entire series (averaging 32.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.6 APG as the Thunder knocked out the Nuggets in five short games) but had his best performance in Game 1, scoring 41 points and grabbing nine rebounds while leading the Thunder to a narrow four-point victory.
9. Durant Enters the 50-40-90 Club
Is this the name of some elite NBA gentleman’s club, and if so, was it founded by the late/great Wilt Chamberlain (a man who claimed to have slept with over 1,000 different women)? No, it is not a gentleman’s club, but it is an elite group. It is for NBA players who average 50 percent on field goals, 40 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent from the foul line. In 2012-2013, Durant (also the youngest ever) entered this club, whose members include Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Reggie Miller and Larry Bird. I guess those guys turned out all right.
8. 2011 Rucker Park Summer League
Before the lockout shortened season of 2011 occurred, many of the top NBA players kept in shape (and entertained) by playing in streetball tournaments throughout the summer. Durant himself is well known for playing in a few each summer, and this year was no different. Oh, except for the fact he exploded for 66 points at the famed Rucker court (The holy land for streetballers) and provided big time news for the next few months.
7. Dominating the Summer Circuit
For people with lives (unlike me) you might not know much about this. Durant, among, many other players (BFF and Bearded Jesus James Harden is another summer league nomad) make numerous appearances at random summer league games when they get bored. One of my favorites is his return to Seattle versus Jamal Crawford‘s team in 2013. Little to no defense or not, Durant went off for 63 points, and a hell of a lot of highlight reel plays in this one. Nothing is better than pro athletes going back to the basics and playing simply for the fun of it.
6. 2011 OKC vs. MIN
This game really was one for the ages (hard to believe since the Timberwolves are involved…) with Durant and Timberwolves star Kevin Love going back and forth the entire game. It ended up going into overtime with Durant really asserting his dominance over the entire T’Wolves roster, finishing with a final stat line of 47 points, 18 rebounds, and two steals, blocks and assists. At the time it was tied with Blake Griffin for the highest scoring output of the season, and Durant provided his best Reggie Miller impression (scoring eight points in the last 53 seconds of play, and he made the overtime–forcing three pointer).
5. 2011-2012 OKC vs. DEN
On February 19, Durant had his first 50-point performance, dominating the Denver Nuggets to the tune of 19-for-28 shooting (67.9 percent!) and 5-for-6 from downtown for a total of 51 points. He also chipped in eight rebounds, three assists and four steals. Take a look at the highlights for this one to see one his most dominating performances.
4. 2012 NBA Playoffs Game 4 vs. LA
In the Western Conference Semifinals, a young Thunder team took an experienced Lakers team down to the final minutes in Game 4, before Durant took control of the game with a go-ahead three-pointer over the player formerly known as Ron Artest at the top of the key. He finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block on 10-for-18 shooting with the Thunder winning, 103-100.
3. 2012 NBA Finals Game 1 vs. MIA
So Durant wasn’t ready to take down the Empire that is the Miami Heat. He did get the best of LeBron and Wade in Game 1, going off for 36 points and eight rebounds (shooting 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from three) as the Thunder beat the Heat, 105-94. Looking back, this game brought back the “LeBron can’t win in the clutch” talk, mostly because Durant stole the show in Game 1.
2. 2013 OKC vs. DAL
Durant went all Greg Jennings in this one, putting the team on his back, scoring a career-high 52 points with nine rebounds to lead the Thunder to victory. Did I mention he also hit the game-winner in overtime as well, and ruined a vintage performance from my favorite player Vince Carter (who broke out for 29 off the bench for the Mavs)? This game is the perfect example of how dominant Durant can be; he’s too quick to be matched up with most power forwards, and will just post up on anyone smaller than him. The Mavs were one of many NBA teams to try the “bully and push Durant because he’s so skinny” gameplan, but in this one Durant showed that even that isn’t going to be enough to stop him.
The game-winner for this one is pretty sweet as well.
1. The Scoring Titles
Durant, a three-time scoring champ, started his run his third year in the league, becoming the youngest player to win the scoring title (30.1 PPG) at the tender age of 21. Durant went on to win the next two years (with averages of 27.7 PPG and 28.0 PPG respectively) before Carmelo supplanted him this past season. To make things even more outstanding, he shot better than 46 percent each year, making him much more than a volume shooter. Durant is one of the most (if not the most) lethal scorers in the NBA today.
What do you expect out of KD this season?
Follow Ian on Twitter at @Ian_Flick.
Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag.
Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE.
