How good was Kevin Durant at his best? | Greatest Peaks Ep. 14

Kevin Durant won the MVP in 2014, starting a multi-year run as one of the best players in the world. (It was briefly interrupted in 2015 by injury.) How impactful was his switchable defense? What were his strengths and weaknesses as a playmaker? Just how important was his shooting and off-ball game? And was he actually the best scorer in NBA history?

This is the 14th episode in a series on the greatest peaks in NBA history (focusing on 1977-2020), featuring detailed scouting reports and film breakdown on the best players in NBA history at their best, along with analysis of their impact using historical data & stats to size up the highest peaking players ever.

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Twitter: @elgee35

Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.

Stats courtesy:

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Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.

**SERIES MUSIC**
Bames Jond by Mikey Geiger
csus (instrumental)
Hair (fairlight)
Our Imperfect Place by Strength to Last
Lost by Alter Ego
Restless Knight by Greg Collins
Empire Season by Dan Henig
Confronting the Void by Cody Martin
Bloom by Bryant Lowry
Nemesis

#ThinkingBasketball #GreatestPeaks #NBAGoat

[isiahsarne]

Could we see your best starting 5 of all time counting how well they fit together in the final episode?

[kgc]

Last time I was this early okc fans still loved kevin durant.

[MrDavid]

Kevin is a true unicorn man. To be that size, that skilled and that gifted athletically is just wow

[gabrielwinston]

Gervin said on an interview with the Knuckleheads that KD was the modern player he saw himself in so fitting comparison

[xViolentDeathx]

Kevin Wayne Durant, because of him I became engrossed in the sports of basketball, fell in love with it & learn how to play it. One of the best player that ever play

[arp_]

This is one of those moments where you realise we should appreciate KD while he’s still in the league and now back healthy. It’s just a joy to watch him do his thing on the court

[pitlessvods]

It’s real simple, I see a thinking basketball video I watch a thinking basketball video.

[adrianmaliackel]

One of the best and most effortless scorers I have EVER seen

[floijd]

Funny, how most of the clips highlighting his good passing ability end in a bricked shot by Westbrook, Adams or Roberson.

[chanendlerbong]

Next one: The Unanimous MVP season of Steph Curry and his breakdown of his insane shooting and his insane off ball moves and his greatest OBPM and greatest plus minus ever

[BladeintheBrain]

19:38 "Kevin could be a bit... Spacey", I see what you did there 😂

[Alphasports]

This guy knows more about basketball then all the people that talk basketball on ESPN put together and half of those guys played in the NBA

[caleb_lane]

The Iceman reference makes me hope we get an analysis of him

[gabrieltierrafria]

Like most fans. I would say he has the most effortless offensive game ever. He truly makes it look too easy. Plus he definitely holds his own on defense side of the ball.

[chungusbudungus]

There’s finally a good breakdown of KD’s game

[nonutemperor]

6"11 with althleticism, handles of a guard and literally can create shots whenever he wants. Defensively, he's also great able to guard all positions. Yes he is one of the most complete scorer in basketball history

[darrellludlow]

Durant admitted that he was recorded at "6'10" and three-quarters with no shoes, so with my shoes on I'm 7-feet."

[eliasdejene]

Yo Ben I'm really excited to watch this video; KD is actually my favorite player and I'm pumped you did a video on him. Thanks so much man

[nickdamas]

I've been watching basketball a LONG time. Since the days of Magic and Bird...
There has NEVER been anyone like KD.
UNBELIEVABLE basketball player.
People gotta enjoy him while hes playing, AND give that brother his flowers.

[danebeaulieu]

Not the same series, but would love to see you analyze Ben Wallace's impact. He's up for HOF again, but the analytics don't have him as an all-timer but he's a 4x DOP and all the ex-players talk about how much an impact he had. Kind of a polarizing figure in that sense plus he's like 6'8 playing center. Definition of an anomaly