KD just said it

[eliteballer]

https://www.instagram.com/grandmasterhoops/reel/DBXFh2ZynQ2/?hl=en

[bdonovan]

If it was so much harder then (and easier now), why is Durant scoring LESS per game now? Between 2009-2014, Durant averaged about 30. Since then, he's not had a single season over 30.

Seems like Durant has already begun the classic, retired player's refrain of "things were harder back in my prime!" a bit early.

Neither Reddick nor KD figured out how to contribute to solid team defense during their careers, so unsurprising they are talking about point-scoring.

[Wardell Curry]

That interview was from 2.5 years ago. How did he "just" say that?

[Phoenix]

If it was so much harder then (and easier now), why is Durant scoring LESS per game now? Between 2009-2014, Durant averaged about 30. Since then, he's not had a single season over 30.




Well for one thing he's not in his prime anymore. But the fact that guys 35+ years old even score anything close to their peak years kind of backs up his point. KD had a season averaging 29.9( so basically 30ppg) in 2022 and 29.1 in 2023. That's in line with what he was doing in his peak. Steph averaged 29ppg 2 years ago. Lebron averaged 30 2 years ago. A combo of improved medical science and all physicality removed from the game does result in an easier scoring environment.

[iamgine]

He's talking about the '08 or '09 season right? Cause that's when he took the least threes.

[Real Men Wear Green]

If it was so much harder then (and easier now), why is Durant scoring LESS per game now? Between 2009-2014, Durant averaged about 30. Since then, he's not had a single season over 30.
His career field goal percentage is 50.1 but he did not shoot over 50% until 12/13. Last season he shot 52%. As you have to know having looked up his stats he has several seasons averaging in the high 20s, going over 29 twice since 2020. And that's all after tearing his achilles and losing some portion of the athleticism he had earlier in his career. So acting like him getting 30 or not is important is silly. He has stated in the past that he doesn't care about the scoring title and anyone that has followed his career knows that just about any season he wanted to he could have led the league in scoring. The ppg is about his approach to the game, not any kind of limit on his ability.

There are things that Durant thinks that I would absolutely argue with but one thing I absolutely don't question is his understanding of how hard it is for him to score. That's one thing that he's going to know better than anyone else possibly could, and lighting the league up the way that he is at 36 having torn his achilles in his 30s...along with the league-wide explosion of offense that we've seen over the last few years this is a credible opinion. There are possibly 10+ guys that could average 30+ on respectable shooting percentages and historically that's not normal.

[Phoenix]

Yeah, of all the guys to question their opinion on scoring, KD is at the bottom of the list.

[3ba11]

That's why many people have kobe or dunan is the GOATS - they won the most of anyone in the "toughest" era, so who cares about the ring counts of prior eras...

However, MJ can make the same argument - the 90's was brutal with even LESS spacing than the 2000's, while the 2000's had defensive 3, which mandates an open paint.

[Im Still Ballin]

He's talking about the '08 or '09 season right? Cause that's when he took the least threes.

He's talking about teams shooting fewer threes in general back then relative to when that interview was recorded.

[ShawkFactory]

That's why many people have kobe or dunan is the GOATS - they won the most of anyone in the "toughest" era, so who cares about the ring counts of prior eras...

However, MJ can make the same argument - the 90's was brutal with even LESS spacing than the 2000's, while the 2000's had defensive 3, which mandates an open paint.

Starting in the 50s, the people who won the most in every era are represented on the GOAT lists.

[Street Hunger]

OKC should give KD a statue

[Chick Stern]

That's why many people have kobe or dunan is the GOATS - they won the most of anyone in the "toughest" era, so who cares about the ring counts of prior eras...

However, MJ can make the same argument - the 90's was brutal with even LESS spacing than the 2000's, while the 2000's had defensive 3, which mandates an open paint.
The 90s was the WEAKEST era

[Real Men Wear Green]

The 90s was the WEAKEST era
You are countering crackhead trolling with an equally foolish statement coming from the other side. You don't prove anything that way you just increase the noise.

The current era of basketball will always have the best basketball players overall. That's just the evolution of training techniques, skills, and strategy. That does not mean that disrespecting players of the past is at all sensible. Laetitia Bird isn't high up in the three list because he played at a time when the three was an act of desperation unlike today where most teams shoot as many of them as possible. That does not mean he couldn't shoot. And the statement you make here is really outright nonsense. A team from the 90s would murder a team from the 60s. An elude modern team would beat a team from the 90s just as handily because the game has evolved. But when you reply to 3ba11 crap worth your own crap all we are left with is a lot of crap.

[3ba11]

Starting in the 50s, the people who won the most in every era are represented on the GOAT lists.


There's no such thing as a "goat list"

There's only 1 goat because goat stands for "greatest of all-time"

Most people think it's the guy that won twice as many chips as the best player (3-pointer history) as anyone else.

[SouBeachTalents]

The 90s was the WEAKEST era
This.

[3ba11]

This.


Who cares because Lebron didn't win any real rings anyway - he just teamed up with opponents

And KD said the 00's was tough because there wasn't good spacing and bigs were in the paint, except that was even more the case in the 90's.. The 90's was just a tougher version of the 00's -

[bdonovan]

Well for one thing he's not in his prime anymore. But the fact that guys 35+ years old even score anything close to their peak years kind of backs up his point. KD had a season averaging 29.9( so basically 30ppg) in 2022 and 29.1 in 2023. That's in line with what he was doing in his peak. Steph averaged 29ppg 2 years ago. Lebron averaged 30 2 years ago. A combo of improved medical science and all physicality removed from the game does result in an easier scoring environment.

There's some validity to that. Age plays a role. But I'm not completely sure I agree with what he's saying- did the NBA pass any rule keeping defenders out of the paint since 2014? The defensive 3 second rule was in the early 2000s so doesn't apply here. And if the defenders are not in the paint, they must be somewhere else, like guarding the mid-range or perimeter.

In 2015, Durant was 27 - pretty prime to me- and several years after that plateaued to mid 20's. Granted he had to share the scoring with Steph.

If it's so easy for Durant to score now, why doesn't he do it? Steph's points scoring has grown since that era, even if he's not prime anymore.

Anyhow, I'm not 100% in disagreement with Durant, there may be something to what he's saying but I'm skeptical.

[bdonovan]

His career field goal percentage is 50.1 but he did not shoot over 50% until 12/13. Last season he shot 52%. As you have to know having looked up his stats he has several seasons averaging in the high 20s, going over 29 twice since 2020. And that's all after tearing his achilles and losing some portion of the athleticism he had earlier in his career. So acting like him getting 30 or not is important is silly. He has stated in the past that he doesn't care about the scoring title and anyone that has followed his career knows that just about any season he wanted to he could have led the league in scoring. The ppg is about his approach to the game, not any kind of limit on his ability.

There are things that Durant thinks that I would absolutely argue with but one thing I absolutely don't question is his understanding of how hard it is for him to score. That's one thing that he's going to know better than anyone else possibly could, and lighting the league up the way that he is at 36 having torn his achilles in his 30s...along with the league-wide explosion of offense that we've seen over the last few years this is a credible opinion. There are possibly 10+ guys that could average 30+ on respectable shooting percentages and historically that's not normal.

Yeah I noticed that; his %'s have gone up since that era- his 2 PT and 3 PT %'s. That's possibly attributable to tougher defense back then or perhaps now having a better 2nd scoring option on his team besides Westbrick.

[3ba11]

Harden, Westbrook and company started their 30/10/10 binges around 2017 and that's when the league-wide ORTG hit record levels for several consecutive years

all of this coincided with Silver implementing the "no impede" rules that prevent a perimeter defender from "impeding" the dribbler's forward movement in any way - the league essentially mandated no perimeter defense, and that's when everyone's numbers went up..

bumping cutters off-ball was also banned.. this beginner format produces weaker players and brand of ball that underachieves favored talent in international competition.

[RRR3]

Harden, Westbrook and company started their 30/10/10 binges around 2017 and that's when the league-wide ORTG hit record levels for several consecutive years

all of this coincided with Silver implementing the "no impede" rules that prevent a perimeter defender from "impeding" the dribbler's forward movement in any way - the league essentially mandated no perimeter defense, and that's when everyone's numbers went up..

bumping cutters off-ball was also banned.. this beginner format produces weaker players and brand of ball that underachieves favored talent in international competition.
The 90s was the weakest era. MJ would be Jordan Clarkson at best today.

[Phoenix]

There's some validity to that. Age plays a role. But I'm not completely sure I agree with what he's saying- did the NBA pass any rule keeping defenders out of the paint since 2014? The defensive 3 second rule was in the early 2000s so doesn't apply here. And if the defenders are not in the paint, they must be somewhere else, like guarding the mid-range or perimeter.

In 2015, Durant was 27 - pretty prime to me- and several years after that plateaued to mid 20's. Granted he had to share the scoring with Steph.

If it's so easy for Durant to score now, why doesn't he do it? Steph's points scoring has grown since that era, even if he's not prime anymore.

Anyhow, I'm not 100% in disagreement with Durant, there may be something to what he's saying but I'm skeptical.


I'm not sure what you are asking by why doesn't he score more now. His scoring is consistent with his prime. Do you mean like, well if he thinks its easier now why isn't he scoring 35? Because again, he's not in his prime but also, KD isn't a chucker. For all his scoring prowess, he only has 3 seasons taking 20 shots a night. Otherwise he usually takes 18-19 a game and usually at the same percentages. For him to score more, he would have to shoot more. But we don't have the context of what he means.

I'm saying it's because he's post Achilles injury at 36 and still dropping 29. There may be a more nuanced opinion but whatever he sees out there, for him it's easier 'because' he is older and lost a step, but it doesn't show in his numbers. In other words, his numbers should be lower now but they aren't. Game pace has also increased since his peak years so more chances to score. Finally, offenses have evolved beyond what the defenses can reasonably contain now. I think we can all agree that the rules heavily favor the offense nowadays.

[ShawkFactory]

There's no such thing as a "goat list"

There's only 1 goat because goat stands for "greatest of all-time"

Most people think it's the guy that won twice as many chips as the best player (3-pointer history) as anyone else.

Well you said this..

That's why many people have kobe or dunan is the GOATS

...before. So you can understand where the confusion would lie.

[3ba11]

The 90s was the weakest era. MJ would be Jordan Clarkson at best today.


https://i.makeagif.com/media/11-21-2021/nDBX5i.gif

[Soundwave]

The 90s was the weakest era. MJ would be Jordan Clarkson at best today.

If Jordan in his prime existed in the modern NBA it's more like weak minded stars like LeBron or Durant would go running to team up with him and ride the gravy train to championships.

Player movement was so much more limited back in the 90s.