How can Kevin Durant win a League MVP?

[CanYouDigIt]

Improve Defense?
Better Finisher?
More of a shot blocker?
Facilitator?
Better Rebounder?

[avonbarksdale]

guy had like 28ppg on 50/40/90 leading his team to 1st place in the harder western confrence, nothing more he can really do tbh

[theBIGjabroni]

can do what he wants but he wont get one with lephag gobbling them up so easily

[SilkkTheShocker]

He can hire someone to kill LeBron James. But seriously, he has no shot at all. There is no way the league will have make his whiny, passive-agressive, jumpshooting, non-charismatic ass the face of the NBA.

[pauk]

By shooting Lebron.

[fpliii]

Voter fatigue.

OT: Would be nice if his rebounding goes up. He and LeBron are the only guys in the league with 30/10 potential (yes raw averages are useless, but that'd be very aesthetically pleasing).

[TheMarkMadsen]

Continue his improved defense & improved play making.

[SHABBA]

Voter fatigue.

OT: Would be nice if his rebounding goes up. He and LeBron are the only guys in the league with 30/10 potential (yes raw averages are useless, but that'd be very aesthetically pleasing).
30/10/5 would definitely be possible. There was a spike in his effort in terms of rebounding early on this season but after Xmas it went away.

[pauk]

Lebron is just a better player and it all hence translates to more team success than it does for Durant aswell.... better player, more wins.... easy pick for MVP, but Durant is a runner-up this season again.... he is 2nd best player on planet, has 2nd best team in NBA arguably, 2nd for MVP, runner-up for Championship... 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.... its just that damn Lebron guy standing in the way... :)

[Trollsmasher]

Mainly improve defense, lead his team to the best record and most importantly

SHOOT THE DAMN BALL and don't try to become another LeBron

He is maybe the most efficient scorer ever and he takes 18 damn shots. He should be taking 21-22 and he would still be hovering around that 60-61% TS while having 32-33 ppg.

[SilkkTheShocker]

It also doesn't help that he isn't even the leader of his own team.

[mugiwara]

He needs to learn how to use screens better and find easier baskets, ones that are within team flow instead of weird 3 point post ups. Get that three throw line jumper going, basically score. he needs to get assists of doubles because KDs idea of playmaking is some absurdly difficult pass, He doesn't have what lebron has. He should try to be the greatest scorer of all time, most of all a post up game. once his comfortable in the key he will become unstoppable.

[dekciw]

He needs to work on his ball protection, he gets stripped too easily. That would decrease his turnovers by a lot. His playmaking has improved, but it ain't quite there yet. It's gonna be hard to win MVP with Lebron around but I think he can do it. If the thunder wins 60+ games again next year and he can improve his Ppg and Apg while staying this efficient, he should be in a pretty good spot.

[Rojogaqu11]

His time will surely come. To most people he may not be as good as Lebron, but in all truth he is like 5% away from being as productive. What he needs are the intangibles to sway people and voters to his side.

For example, Kobe won the respect and admiration of the league for many years because people not only saw the spectacular plays and numbers but also the unrelenting attack in his playstyle, the competitive fire, and the pride in his demeanor and work ethic. Those are Jordan-like intangibles that propelled him above any other contender for the title of best player and/or MVP during his time.

Lebron and Durant have the incredible numbers and also the team success, but Lebron has the proven ability to inspire in his teammates a kind of trust that was also seen from Bird and Magic. As they did, Lebron is a player that can do anything on the court but that capacity has not hindered him from becoming a player that will rely on others' strength in order to succeed. So in a way he empowers others through his ability to compromise to the talent around him.

Durant is on the right path to becoming that kind of player, and in some ways he can become and even more devastating player than Lebron.

To talk specifics, if Durant added a bit of fire to his defensive ability and demeanor, it would make voters think twice before defaulting the trophy to Lebron.

[Mass Debator]

Improve ball handling and limit Westbrook's duties. Get around 34-36 ppg. I don't even care if it's at 46-48%. Just take like 5-6 more shots a game. :D

It'll be a statline of 35/8/4 on 47/40/90 vs 27/7/8 on 57/40/75 with the top 2 records in the league. Who ya got?

[wally_world]

Continue to score more and shoot 50/40/90. Get rebounding up to almost 10 per game. Win 2-3 more games than LBJ. Make some game winners or big plays in April.

[NumberSix]

LeBron is already the favorite for the 2014 MVP.

[Kurosawa0]

I think he gets it next year. No way LeBron gets it 5 out of 6 years.

[HomieWeMajor]

Statpad like he's never statpad before

[chosen_wun]

I think he gets it next year. No way LeBron gets it 5 out of 6 years.
Just watch.

[Fudge]

I think he gets it next year. No way LeBron gets it 5 out of 6 years.
:bowdown:

MVPrant.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Are there really people that still think OKC will have "their time" and start winning titles? Its not going to happen.

[secund2nun]

It will be even harder next season. Miami may threaten to break the 70 win mark, Lebron will have another offseason to work on his 3 point shooting and post game, and may threaten the all time PER mark again.

[WayOfWade]

To quote Charles Barkley, "He's gonna have to murder LeBron."

[I.R.Beast]

Lebron is just a better player and it all hence translates to more team success than it does for Durant aswell.... better player, more wins.... easy pick for MVP, but Durant is a runner-up this season again.... he is 2nd best player on planet, has 2nd best team in NBA arguably, 2nd for MVP, runner-up for Championship... 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.... its just that damn Lebron guy standing in the way... :)
playing with wade adn bosh translates to more team success

[SilkkTheShocker]

playing with wade adn bosh translates to more team success

LeBron had 60 win seasons playing with crap. GTFO.

[ShaqAttack3234]

He's good enough right now, in fact, he's better than players who have been voted MVP before. Depends on whether Lebron has another season like this, and honestly, if the media gets behind KD/gets tired of voting for Lebron.

Durant can still improve as a player as he has every year, but I'm not sure how much better his numbers will get, which is what voters will look at. He seems kind of settled in as a player who will average around 28 ppg with 8 rpg and great shooting percentages. Assist numbers have risen, but I can't see him averaging much more than 5, which he almost averaged this season.

In different situations, I could see him scoring a bit more, or maybe averaging an extra rebound per game, but if it's not on a team that wins around 60 games, it won't really help his chances. If Westbrook was out an extended period of time and OKC still won at a similar pace, that might make him the favorite.

Impossible to say who else will emerge in 4 years for example, but by that point, Lebron will be 32, and Durant will only be 28......


I think he gets it next year. No way LeBron gets it 5 out of 6 years.

Well, if Melo gets to the ECF and continues to play really well and then has a great season while missing fewer games, and the Knicks win closer to 60 games, he'll get a lot of votes/consideration.

Difficult to see who else would get a lot of consideration, though. Chris Paul is on a really deep team which affects his numbers, and OKC has been winning more than them anyway.

But as many years as they vote for Lebron, he still can't be discounted. I thought they might be hesitant to vote for him after "The Decision", 2011 finals ect. until he won a title, but then there was 2012. And I thought they'd be hesitant to give him a 4th, but he played at a level that gave them no other choice, especially with Miami's team success, and the momentum from Lebron's first ring after how scrutinized he'd been didn't hurt either.

[Force]

To win MVP all Durant has to do is become better than Lebron. Good luck with that KD.

[Lebron23]

It will be even harder next season. Miami may threaten to break the 70 win mark, Lebron will have another offseason to work on his 3 point shooting and post game, and may threaten the all time PER mark again.


I hope LeBron will not play in the 2014 FIBA World Championship. He already won back to back Gold Medals in the Olympics.

[To4]

There's nothing Durant can do tbh, Lebron is playing out of his mind, still the

best player in the planet, durant can win the MVP by hoping and praying lebron

will have a drop off in his game (but thats entirely impossible)..

[leMVP]

He must finish with a better team record than lebrom's team ala Barkely and Malone, in terms of skill set he won't surpass lebron and will always be viewed as the 2nd best.

[KyleKong]

Hope LeBron sits out for more than 30+ games.

[ShaqAttack3234]

He must finish with a better team record than lebrom's team ala Barkely and Malone, in terms of skill set he won't surpass lebron and will always be viewed as the 2nd best.

Jordan's Bulls actually won 5 more games than the Jazz in '97.

[dannywpt]

I can see it happening if Durant has an even better season next year where:

1. He wins scoring title, goes for 90/50/40 again, has 5+ asst, 8+reb, less turnovers

AND

2. OKC finishes with a better record than the Heat

AND

3. Durant plays equal or better than LeBron in their regular season meetings


If he doesn't complete all these 3, James will get it again (if he puts up the same season as this year statistically)...

[Lebron23]

28/9/6 on 50 FG%. Thunder needs to win 64 or more games.

[Myth]

Assuming LeBron is still playing at the level he is, I don't see Durant becoming better than him, so I think his chance at MVP comes from a combination of his team doing better than LeBron's and voters looking to vote for somebody besides LeBron.

[Poetry]

To talk specifics, if Durant added a bit of fire to his defensive ability and demeanor, it would make voters think twice before defaulting the trophy to Lebron.

Only player to [have] 100 blocks/100 steals this year.

[fixed]

[knicksman]

by winning a ring..Theres no way he can win with a statpadder. Its the same reason why rose and iverson won mvps coz we have a media that its stupid enough to repeat the same mistakes of voting statpadders.

rose 0 ring for 1 mvp
iverson too
then lebron with 0.5 ring for 4 mvps
oscar with 0 ring as the man for 1 mvp

[dannywpt]

by winning a ring..

He needs to be the first player to ever win a ring in the regular season?

[Lebron23]

He needs to be the first player to ever win a ring in the regular season?


That kid is mentally retarded.

[Ken_Masters]

Kevin Durant will win an MVP. Do people seriously think LeBron will win an MVP every single year? Not even Michael Jordan won it every year. Somebody other than LeBron will win it, and i'd bet my money that Durant will be that guy.

[chosen_wun]

Only player to average 100 blocks/100 steals this year.
:facepalm

[Poetry]

:facepalm

I'm just pointing out that he has an underrated defensive presence.

You don't get 100 blocks and 100 steals by not playing D.

[Breezy]

As good as Durant is there is virtually no chance he is ever better than lebron. HOWEVER! If the thunder win more games than the heat next year it would give the fatigued voters all the excuse they need to give him the award. Look to Derek Rose's mvp award. Was he really even a top 5 player that year? it's arguable. Certainly Lebron, Wade, Howard, and Durant were better but his team had the best record and Lebron had just come off back to back Mvp seasons.

[longtime lurker]

He should have been last season

[Fudge]

I'm just pointing out that he has an underrated defensive presence.

You don't get 100 blocks and 100 steals by not playing D.
He facepalmed you because you said he averages those amounts. :oldlol:

[chosen_wun]

I'm just pointing out that he has an underrated defensive presence.

You don't get 100 blocks and 100 steals by not playing D.
I know. 2 things.

1. I was just making fun of the mistake you made by saying he "averaged" 100 blks and steals.

2. 100 is arbitrary, there are players who have gotten 90+ blocks and steals but they don't qualify for the milestone because they didn't get a few more. (Due to sitting out games, deduction in minutes etc.) but they still give the same impact or better than a Durant.

[Poetry]

He facepalmed you because you said he averages those amounts. :oldlol:

Ah, fair enough, will go back and fix :hammerhead:

[Poetry]

2. 100 is arbitrary, there are players who have gotten 90+ blocks and steals but they don't qualify for the milestone because they didn't get a few more. (Due to sitting out games, deduction in minutes etc.) but they still give the same impact or better than a Durant.

I think Josh Smith had 90-90 this year.

[BBallZen83]

Continue to improve on defense, become a better play maker, debunk the idea that he is just a really good spot up shooter, and hopefully hit his prime full stride while lebron is on the decline.

[All Net]

Defense and getting better alround.

[KG215]

Continue to improve on defense, become a better play maker, debunk the idea that he is just a really good spot up shooter, and hopefully hit his prime full stride while lebron is on the decline.
If people still think that's all he is, they're either blindly hating on him, or haven't watched any OKC games the last two seasons.

[Jax]

Lebron coasting>Durant giving his best, stat padding, FT's at will and coddled by the league.
All he can do is pass the rock more to Westbrook, to see if he "improves" his assists.

[BBallZen83]

If people still think that's all he is, they're either blindly hating on him, or haven't watched any OKC games the last two seasons.
I agree, his passing and defense have definitely improved over the past couple seasons. This season especially. He just needs to keep it up to really hammer it home in people's perception. Perception always lags reality.

[JellyBean]

He can't. At least Durant will know how Kobe feels when Steve Nash stole Kobe's league MVP honors a few years ago.

[BBallZen83]

To people saying KD will never win an MVP, he is 4 years younger than Lebron. You don't think when Lebron is 32 and Durant is 28 he won't have a chance to catch an MVP or two?

[TheReal Kendall]

Play in Euroleague :confusedshrug:

[Cermet]

assists. If he started to average like 7 assists a game, yeah then he could be mvp

[knicksman]

well people were giving mvps to larry bird first before realizing how dumb they are to think hes better than magic. I think people will eventually realize how overrated lebron is when durant starts winning his rings.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

By shooting Lebron.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Marlo_Stanfield]

by doing this every game:applause: :applause:
https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/851934542.gif

[riseagainst]

By shooting Lebron.

:roll:

[Dengness9]

Happy for KD, well deserved for a great season:applause:

[Cowboy Thunder]

Funny seeing the same Branstans in this thread talkin shit. :lol

[dannywpt]

by winning a ring..Theres no way he can win with a statpadder. Its the same reason why rose and iverson won mvps coz we have a media that its stupid enough to repeat the same mistakes of voting statpadders.

rose 0 ring for 1 mvp
iverson too
then lebron with 0.5 ring for 4 mvps
oscar with 0 ring as the man for 1 mvp

Look, he won it without winning a ring in the regular season :bowdown:

[russwest0]

Go apeshit without Westbrook?

Check.

[SOD 21]

It turned out that RW missing nearly half the season was the ideal catalyst to demonstrate what Durant could do with an All Star sidekick and give him an opportunity to show off his improved playmaking skills.

After RW had to have his third surgery right after Christmas, KD averaged the following for the final 54 games this season:

34 ppgs, 7 rpg, 6 apg, 51% fg, 39% 3PT and 1.54 pps

When KD had to elevate his game to carry his team w/o RW and he stepped up in a historically great way.

Congrats to KD.