Kevin Durant is on track to become the NBA's most efficient scorer ever
Kevin Durant will go down as one of the best scorers in the history of the NBA but also as one of the most efficient scorers ever.
Kevin Durant makes the most on limited field goal attempts
KD makes 27.1 points on 18.6 attempts per game. Among the NBA superstars and legends on the list published by StatMuse, the only players with better scoring numbers are Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor. However, these three also attempted more shots per game - they would all take three to four shots more than KD. Taking Durant's career shooting percentage of 49 % into consideration, that would make him a 30+ point scorer if he took the same number of shots as MJ, Wilt, or Elgin.
What puts Durant in the conversation with the greatest scorers ever goes beyond the numbers. Durant became one of the most efficient and prolific scorers in NBA history while taking some of the most challenging shots ever. Everyone knows he's taking the last shot, and the defense is focused on him every second Durant is on the floor, yet he can drop 30 on anyone and be efficient doing so.
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Successful teams make successful players
To become great, a player must play for a successful team. If a team contends for the Finals year after year, it allows the players to pile up numbers. Kevin Durant was not always part of successful teams. In fact, he had been to the finals only four times, despite being teammates with All-Stars such as Russell Westbrook and James Harden in Oklahoma City, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry in Golden State, and Kyrie Irving and Harden in Brooklyn.
This year, KD has another chance to go to the finals, despite the drama the Nets are going through right now. They can win a ring with or without Irving, who still refuses to get the vaccine. This could be a blessing in disguise for Durant, who would have to do the heavy lifting to cover the offense in Kyrie's absence, adding to his impressive statistical profile.
The 3-time Olympic gold medalist does not need any extra motivation to win. At this stage of his career, Durant is a sure Hall-of-Famer. He is chasing the chance to become one of the all-time greats and adding more accolades to his legacy. KD has the skills and the time to do that, but he needs to stay healthy if he is to reach the very top of the mountain.
