Have we seen a player like Kevin Durant before?

[EGarrett]

The more I watch this guy, the more I'm starting to wonder who exactly his game resembles that I've seen before, and I'm really struggling to figure it out.

The guy is essentially a 6'10" shooting guard with nasty handles and quickness, a DEVASTATING jumper from spot-up OR pull-up, and FREAKISH length...he actually has a higher standing reach than Anthony Davis, and the same standing reach as DPOY center Tyson Chandler (who is 7'1" btw)...with obviously more speed and probably more hops. With that length and mobility, he could be a shotblocking machine if he really wanted to...and if he put on 15-20 more pounds, he could almost guard all 5 positions.

I can't think of anyone who is a prototype for what Kevin Durant is or could be. Lamar Odom? His ability to get his shot off and consistency is so much better. Dirk Nowitzki? He's so much quicker with such better handles. Tracy McGrady? T-Mac had sick length and hops too, but Durant is even LONGER, and so far, seems to be much more durable despite his slight frame.

If you guys remember Darius Miles and Jonathan Bender, Durant really seems like what both of those guys were projected to be in a best-case scenario. Except Durant was better as a college freshman than either of them ever were.

What do you think?

[C-izMe]

Taller, longer Gervin (if we're talking athleticism and skillset and not the use of it). Not quite as good of a scorer yet but he's still young.

[Doormatt]

i dont really get it, hes not THAT unique. like you said, he resembles a lot of different players. he does some things better than them, they do some things better than him. his combination of length and fluidity is impressive, but i find someone like tmac to be much more impressive given that hes just a little shorter (i think) and MUCH better with the ball.

[EGarrett]

i dont really get it, hes not THAT unique. like you said, he resembles a lot of different players. he does some things better than them, they do some things better than him. his combination of length and fluidity is impressive, but i find someone like tmac to be much more impressive given that hes just a little shorter (i think) and MUCH better with the ball.

T-Mac was a 2-3. Not a 2-3-4-5.

[Doormatt]

durant cant play the 5, and tmac could easily play PG. not that it really matters since tmac was a far more versatile offensive and defensive player, regardless of what positions they could play.

[Josephpaul]

He reminds of Baylor some what

[Dr Positivity]

Yes we have, his name is Dirk Nowitzki. The height, shooting ability, speed, feel for the game and fundamentals/attitude make Durant the same type of cover at SF that Dirk is at PF. Expect Durant to keep adding to that post game as he reaches 2011 Dirk's age to make up for his declining speed in his early 30s

[postertag]

I always thought of Durant as a poor man's Larry Bird...

[slick_watts]

Yes we have, his name is Dirk Nowitzki. The height, shooting ability, speed, feel for the game and fundamentals/attitude make Durant the same type of cover at SF that Dirk is at PF. Expect Durant to keep adding to that post game as he reaches 2011 Dirk's age to make up for his declining speed in his early 30s

I agree but Durant seems more explosive athletically than Dirk ever was.

[HighFlyer23]

these threads always pop up whenever a new superstar player "emerges"

plenty of "have we seen a player like lebron before?" or "have we seen a player like MJ before?"

[tsherkin]

There are a lot of guys who show a little of this, a little of that.

You can see some Reggie in Kevin with his off-ball work, but Reggie was 3 or 4 inches shorter. You can see a lot of Gervin in him because of his great shot and smooth offense. You can see, of course, a lot of younger Dirk, though he's a bit shorter and more athletic. He's definitely a 2-guard in a 4's body, though, a match-up nightmare. I said this the other day to someone, but he plays like a 2 against 3s and 4s, so they don't really have any idea of how to guard him because it's so different than what they're used to a lot of the time, with a few exceptions. To some degree, you can see a little Garnett in him on O as well.

Obviously, none of these comparisons fit perfectly, but that's the beauty of it: he's unique. Like other greats before him, he's building on what has come before and making it his own. He's pretty damned wicked now, and if he keeps building his game, he's going to be a truly terrifying offensive force.

[tsherkin]

these threads always pop up whenever a new superstar player "emerges"

plenty of "have we seen a player like lebron before?" or "have we seen a player like MJ before?"

Yeah, because usually we haven't. There's been nothing quite like Lebron before, and there hadn't really been anything like MJ before. A little of this, a little of that, but totally their own player.

[Sedale Threatt]

Yes we have, his name is Dirk Nowitzki. The height, shooting ability, speed, feel for the game and fundamentals/attitude make Durant the same type of cover at SF that Dirk is at PF. Expect Durant to keep adding to that post game as he reaches 2011 Dirk's age to make up for his declining speed in his early 30s

I agree but Durant seems more explosive athletically than Dirk ever was.

Definitely. Dirk has always had old-man game, even when he was younger. I've also never seen Dirk beat LeBron down the court on a break and dunk after two dribbles from halfcourt.

Now, combined his shooting ability with Gervin's length/raw scoring ability, and you've got it. It's like those two had a baby.

[Slot Machine]

I've always thought of Durant as a combination of Reggie Miller and Dirk, throw in a little Iceman and I think it's a pretty accurate representation.

[TheKingOfVa360]

He's a taller Gervin who's not as good on offense