KD will reclaim best player in the NBA title

[StrongLurk]

KD clearly had the title in 2019 before tearing his achilles. Then Lebron reclaimed the best player title last year, however KD was out due to injury.

Now that he is back, KD will prove he is still best since Bron has had a real decline this year at 36.

It's OBVIOUS the Nets will win the chip this year since their team is stacked, but KD is gonna make winning FMVP look EASY. Dude is just unstoppable and honestly people just hate him cause of his Warriors move and don't want to respect his game even though he is AT LEAST a Larry Bird level player.

[Thenameless]

It's OBVIOUS the Nets will win the chip this year since their team is stacked, but KD is gonna make winning FMVP look EASY. Dude is just unstoppable and honestly people just hate him cause of his Warriors move and don't want to respect his game even though he is AT LEAST a Larry Bird level player.

He's Bird level only at scoring, I'll even say he might be ahead. Bird is by far a more complete basketball player though.

[r0drig0lac]

another superteam, another title with 0 value, so NO.

[Nilocon165]

He should probably win on a team that doesn’t have a former MVP winner in their prime on it first

[StrongLurk]

He's Bird level only at scoring, I'll even say he might be ahead. Bird is by far a more complete basketball player though.

Lol Durant is a whole tier ahead of Bird on scoring, are you serious?

Durant playoff prime - 29.3ppg, 60.1 TS%
Bird playoff prime - 24.5ppg, 55.5 TS%

It's not even close scoring, ESPECIALLY if you consider Durant is easily one of the best finals players of all time. His scoring in the finals is off the charts, only guys like MJ and Peak Shaq can compete.

Durant and Bird's ten year playoff prime for advanced stats is NEARLY identical. And yeah Durant has been on super stacked teams but so was Bird most of the 80's.

People just respect Bird the person/competitor more than Durant, but basketball talent and skill they are even. By the time Durant is retired, he'll be considered a top 10-12 player ever.

[iamgine]

People respect his game and recognize that he's one of the best player in the game.

People don't respect titles when your move make the team too stacked. i.e moving to a 73 win team.

[StrongLurk]

Durant playoff prime - 134 games - 24.7 PER, 60.1 TS%, 7.1 BPM, 29.3/7.7/4.1
Bird playoff prime - 150 games - 21.8 PER, 55.5 TS%, 7.3 BPM, 24.5/10.6/6.5
Kobe playoff prime - 170 games - 23.4 PER, 54.6 TS%, 6.0 BPM, 28.5/5.5/5.2

Imagine thinking Durant isn't on a similar tier to Bird and Kobe?

[Axe]

Damn, anotha one.

[ImKobe]

Durant playoff prime - 134 games - 24.7 PER, 60.1 TS%, 7.1 BPM, 29.3/7.7/4.1
Bird playoff prime - 150 games - 21.8 PER, 55.5 TS%, 7.3 BPM, 24.5/10.6/6.5
Kobe playoff prime - 170 games - 23.4 PER, 54.6 TS%, 6.0 BPM, 28.5/5.5/5.2

Imagine thinking Durant isn't on a similar tier to Bird and Kobe?

Much easier to score in this era if we're being honest, especially when KD had Steph and Klay space the floor for him in GS. Out of the three, Kobe's era was the least friendly to perimeter players in terms of efficiency numbers, that's the bulk of his prime/peak years.

And yes, KD is the best player in the NBA, and has been since 2014.

[SouBeachTalents]

There's something mad grimy about awarding a guy BITW status when he plays 35 games the whole season. Imo winning a title with Harden/Kyrie isn't nearly enough to offset that.

[StrongLurk]

Much easier to score in this era if we're being honest, especially when KD had Steph and Klay space the floor for him in GS. Out of the three, Kobe's era was the least friendly to perimeter players in terms of efficiency numbers, that's the bulk of his prime/peak years.

And yes, KD is the best player in the NBA, and has been since 2014.

For Kobe, I only included his playoff runs starting in 01, so really only four of his runs were in a harder era (01, 02, 03, 04). The majority of his other runs was 06-12, so seven runs in the "easier" era starting on 06.

80's defense wasn't any better than what's happening now. Only thing was flagrant calls weren't really called often back in the 80's. Yes Durant had ultra stacked teams with the Warriors, BUT he was still the best player on those teams. How many players can be the BEST player on the most stacked team ever? Maybe ten?

Look, you are a Kobe stan so you'll never see things objectively. But looking at ALL the factors, Durant is clearly a Larry Bird level player, and arguably a Kobe level player as well.

[ImKobe]

For Kobe, I only included his playoff runs starting in 01, so really only four of his runs were in a harder era (01, 02, 03, 04). The majority of his other runs was 06-12, so seven runs in the "easier" era starting on 06.

80's defense wasn't any better than what's happening now. Only thing was flagrant calls weren't really called often back in the 80's.

I think the lack of 3PT shooting in Bird's era hurts his numbers, but you're right. Durant has been a monster though, even when he had no spacing in OKC, but obviously had a bunch of terrible shooting nights and some inefficient runs thanks to the lack of shooting help once Harden got traded. 28.4 ppg on 54%TS in his last Playoff run with Thunder, 29.6 ppg on 64%TS in the 3 runs with GS.

[SATAN]

Bron has had a real decline this year at 36.



He likely would have won MVP if he wasn't injured

Terrible thread. :facepalm

[StrongLurk]

He likely would have won MVP if he wasn't injured

Terrible thread. :facepalm

Do you not realize injury is part of nba players declining? Their body breaks down and is more likely to get injured. Bron missed a TON of games in 2019 and this year, way more than he missed any time before he joined the Lakers.

Lebron is still a GOAT but he's 36 man, just a basic eye test and numbers test shows he has declined this year.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Nah, KD never had best in the world status. LeBron's had a stranglehold on that since 2012 at least.

[tpols]

He's Bird level only at scoring, I'll even say he might be ahead. Bird is by far a more complete basketball player though.

He's much better than Larry Bird at scoring. And defense. Bird has passing though. And toughness and leadership.

[Thenameless]

He's much better than Larry Bird at scoring. And defense. Bird has passing though. And toughness and leadership.

Scoring is closer than you think. And if they played in the same era you can bet your bottom dollar that Bird would be the far superior 3 point shooter (how many 3 point contests has Durant won?). Defense, Bird is better. Durant does a bit better in blocks per game, but Bird is clearly better in steals per game which is a much more important defensive stat (many blocks go out of bounds or back to the other team, while steals often lead to fast break points). Bird is also a better help defender. You're right about toughness and leadership. One thing about toughness though, is that it worked against Bird too. He wrecked his back by being too much of a man's man. Softer, modern day players would simply pay someone to do the shoveling instead of wrecking their own back. And then they'd load manage if their back was sore.

[Thenameless]

People just respect Bird the person/competitor more than Durant, but basketball talent and skill they are even. By the time Durant is retired, he'll be considered a top 10-12 player ever.

Why do you think that is?

[StrongLurk]

Why do you think that is?

Bird deserves way more respect than Lebron as a person and competitor, but no one really thinks Bird > Lebron for the NBA all time lists.

KD is RIGHT THERE with Bird man, it's plain as day. Dude literally tore his achilles and is still dominating.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

KD is great, and clearly one of the best scorers ever.

How great he is historically is tough to gauge though. Since OKC choked against the Warriors. Durant has been on loaded teams. And by 'loaded' I mean CLEAR favorites.

[FireDavidKahn]

How?

Harden is the best player on that team

[StrongLurk]

KD with 42 points on 14/20, 3/3 from 3 and 11/11 from the free throw line.

It's so obvious that he is about to get his third FMVP this year. For me, he can pass Bird all time if he ends up with another dominant title run.

[kawhileonard2]

It's between KD and Kawhi right now.

[StrongLurk]

Told yall KD was at least a Larry Bird level player.

I've made a few threads about KD vs Bird.

Cliffnotes: Durant and Bird's ten year playoff prime for boxscore advanced stats are NEARLY identical. People just respect Bird the person/competitor more than Durant, but basketball talent and skill they are even. By the time Durant is retired, he'll be considered a top 10-12 player ever.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

You have to claim best player in the first place to actually reclaim it. Never led the playoffs in any advance stats like BPM, PER, win share, VORP.

He's a hell of an offensive player and 2nd only to kawhi. Not the best overall though

[kawhileonard2]

You have to claim best player in the first place to actually reclaim it. Never led the playoffs in any advance stats like BPM, PER, win share, VORP.

He's a hell of an offensive player and 2nd only to kawhi. Not the best overall though

be quiet. Let's settle it in the finals between both of us.

[Mr.GOAT2408]

He's been the best since 2017, only Kawhi in 2019 and now has had a case since

[StrongLurk]

He's been the best since 2017, only Kawhi in 2019 and now has had a case since

No, Lebron was at a minimum equal to KD in 2017 and 2018. Me personally, I think Lebron still had a slight edge over KD in 2017 and 2018.

KD was better in 2019 and 2021.

Regardless, people don't respect KD because he went to the Warriors. I get it, but it's annoying since KD haters want to act like he isn't one of the best players of all time easily.

[kawhileonard2]

KD clearly had the title in 2019 before tearing his achilles. Then Lebron reclaimed the best player title last year, however KD was out due to injury.

Now that he is back, KD will prove he is still best since Bron has had a real decline this year at 36.

It's OBVIOUS the Nets will win the chip this year since their team is stacked, but KD is gonna make winning FMVP look EASY. Dude is just unstoppable and honestly people just hate him cause of his Warriors move and don't want to respect his game even though he is AT LEAST a Larry Bird level player.

Lebron never reclaimed best player. Anthony Davis was the best in 2020 on the Lakers.