Zach Lowe: Durant should finish as one of the Top 10 ever.

[Milbuck]

He's been better, especially considering the 2014 MVP. But Durant's performances in the playoffs that while good, still leave a lot to be desired for a player of his magnitude and hype. I mean top ten all-time? And he's getting bullied by Tony Allen, and Chris Paul?

The dude was 25 this past season.

KD at 25:
Regular season: 32/7/6/1/1 on 64% TS, 29.8 PER, .295 WS/48
Playoffs: 30/9/4/1/1 on 57% TS, 22.6 PER, .145 WS/48

Bird at 25:
Regular season: 23/11/6/2/1 on 56% TS, 22.6 PER, .205 WS/48
Playoffs: 18/13/6/2/1 on 47% TS, 17.9 PER, .154 WS/48

Obviously not saying KD will surpass Bird...but we need to put things into perspective. It's incredibly tough for a 25-26 year old player to stack up favorably against top 10 players all time whose peaks have been seen and careers have been recorded start to finish.

Players have underwhelming playoff runs...I'm not going to make a definitive statement on Durant's career and legacy this soon. The guy just turned 26 and has a game built for elite longevity. At 25 years old (this past season) he showed that his highest level so far is one of the highest levels ever. Just because he underperformed in the playoffs doesn't mean he'll do so every single year from now on. What if he brings the level he was at in January to the playoffs this season or the next, the year after that, or all 3?

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Are you serious? Durant is 26 years old. It's not like he's 33 right now.

He's in his prime and he aint better than any of those guys in theirs.

[imnew09]

Once he starts winning rings, then we can start talking....

[KDthunderup]

Once he wins a ring or two he'll be up there for discussion.

[Sarcastic]

and halfway through all their careers people probably threw out top-10 lists and said the same shit (except for Wilt and Russell who played before anyone cared)

Everyone on that list was mentioned as GOAT material within the first 2 years of entering the league, except for maybe Duncan and Hakeem.

[navy]

Everyone on that list was mentioned as GOAT material within the first 2 years of entering the league, except for maybe Duncan and Hakeem.

[Sarcastic]

Duncan wasn't being mentioned as potential top 10 in 1999. Shaq was the best young big man, and Karl Malone was being talked about as the best PF after winning his second MVP. There were a lot of questions about Duncan and how he would do once David Robinson was gone.

[dannywpt]

Once he goes 2/5 we can start talking top 10

[russwest0]

Once he goes 2/5 we can start talking top 10

damn sounds like he needs to get on his eastern conference superteam shit....
























































again.

[S13M]

Dude's inferior to T-Mac and Melo and when he gets injured, suddenly he's top-10 all-time talent. Durant is lucky to even make it to the HoF.

[T_L_P]

Duncan wasn't being mentioned as potential top 10 in 1999. Shaq was the best young big man, and Karl Malone was being talked about as the best PF after winning his second MVP. There were a lot of questions about Duncan and how he would do once David Robinson was gone.

Lots of people (Bill Walton, Jeff Van Gundy, maybe even Shaq himself) called Duncan the best player in the league after 99. After he won the Finals MVP, the NBC announcer said it was unfair to compare anyone to Jordan, but Duncan was his successor (a lot of people questioned whose league it would be when MJ was gone).

What did Shaq do in his first 2 years to give himself GOAT talks that Duncan didn't do? What did LeBron do?

[Milbuck]

The potential of your legacy is determined by the level of play you reach, not how far into your career you reach said level.

And Durant by 25 has reached an all-time great level. He didn't carry it into the playoffs...but at least we know what he's capable of at his highest level (so far). And the guy is still getting better.

But even if he doesn't improve whatsoever and peaks at the level he was at this past winter...if he wins 3-4 championships at that level, he's got a damn good case for top 10 all time.

And considering that literally everyone who matters on his team is only getting better (including himself), and they've already been to the finals and WCF 3x when healthy...I don't put 3 perhaps 4 championships in the next decade out of the realm of possibility.

[navy]

Durant wont have the nostalgia factor.

[Nowitness]

Dude's inferior to T-Mac and Melo and when he gets injured, suddenly he's top-10 all-time talent. Durant is lucky to even make it to the HoF.

Troll obvious troll.

He has accomplished more already that either of them ever could (MVP/Finalist).

[Marchesk]

I don't know, Oscar was pretty damn good the first part of his career and he's not in the top 10.

Guys that have been pushed out of the top 10 that Durant would have to pass:

Dr J, M. Malone, Baylor, West, Oscar.