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We give guys like Kevin Garnett, DeMarcus Cousins, and even Chris Webber so much credit for being so skilled for their position and size, and rightfully so.

But KD is a legit 7 footer with a tight handle and all-time level shooting ability. At this point he has to be considered a big man IMO.

He's essentially a stretch 4 now, with some minutes at the 5 mixed in for good measure. He should be the gold standard for skilled "big men" at this point, no?

Well in terms of ball handling and jump shooting sure. But being the most skilled can refer to a lot of things. Hakeem in the post with his nimble feet and soft touch is surely up there as well.

yeah easily

Agreed, he's a freak of nature.

He's an all time great scorer, but he doesn't have a low post scoring skill besides a fade away.

I don't really consider him as a big man. I think his true position is a wing player.

For this era, yes. Dude finally realized last year that he's a 7 footer, that his height and length coupled with his speed are invaluable on the defensive end. Offensively, he figured out what Dirk figured out in 2011...."no one can guard my 3-4 moves when I'm on."

I see what you're saying but I can't get on board with this. The only one of those guys that Durant wouldn't get abused by is Garnett but kg could defend most any big around. Sure kd plays the 4 now but the game has laid out perfectly for him with the way it's become so perimeter oriented. Durant has never taken a guy into the post and made a post move going towards the basket. I will give you the most skilled 7 ft player of all time but I'm not calling him a big man at 185 lbs.

Also -

He's definitely the most skilled snake I've ever seen.

whatchaknow wrote:I see what you're saying but I can't get on board with this. The only one of those guys that Durant wouldn't get abused by is Garnett but kg could defend most any big around. Sure kd plays the 4 now but the game has laid out perfectly for him with the way it's become so perimeter oriented. Durant has never taken a guy into the post and made a post move going towards the basket. I will give you the most skilled 7 ft player of all time but I'm not calling him a big man at 185 lbs.

Kevin Durant weighs 185 lbs.?

Master Ze wrote:I don't consider him a big man

Whatever position a guy plays or where he plays on the floor is always up for debate. But the facts is, he's 7 feet tall and no player his size has ever been this skilled.

Sure, why not?

ItsThatEasy wrote:

whatchaknow wrote:I see what you're saying but I can't get on board with this. The only one of those guys that Durant wouldn't get abused by is Garnett but kg could defend most any big around. Sure kd plays the 4 now but the game has laid out perfectly for him with the way it's become so perimeter oriented. Durant has never taken a guy into the post and made a post move going towards the basket. I will give you the most skilled 7 ft player of all time but I'm not calling him a big man at 185 lbs.

Kevin Durant weighs 185 lbs.?

That's all you took from that? It was just a hyperbole. But he was probably just barely north of 200 coming into the league

whatchaknow wrote:

ItsThatEasy wrote:

whatchaknow wrote:I see what you're saying but I can't get on board with this. The only one of those guys that Durant wouldn't get abused by is Garnett but kg could defend most any big around. Sure kd plays the 4 now but the game has laid out perfectly for him with the way it's become so perimeter oriented. Durant has never taken a guy into the post and made a post move going towards the basket. I will give you the most skilled 7 ft player of all time but I'm not calling him a big man at 185 lbs.

Kevin Durant weighs 185 lbs.?

That's all you took from that? It was just a hyperbole. But he was probably just barely north of 200 coming into the league

That's the only thing worth quoting tbh.

Unless saying KD has never posted up and made a move towards the basket is also hyperbole. I would hope you don't actually believe that.

ItsThatEasy wrote:We give guys like Kevin Garnett, DeMarcus Cousins, and even Chris Webber so much credit for being so skilled for their position and size, and rightfully so.

But KD is a legit 7 footer with a tight handle and all-time level shooting ability. At this point he has to be considered a big man IMO.

He's essentially a stretch 4 now, with some minutes at the 5 mixed in for good measure. He should be the gold standard for skilled "big men" at this point, no?

Disagree. To me his handles are average and he gets away with a lot of carrying.

Hakeem Olajuwon wants to have a word with you, O.P.

GameOver25 wrote:

ItsThatEasy wrote:We give guys like Kevin Garnett, DeMarcus Cousins, and even Chris Webber so much credit for being so skilled for their position and size, and rightfully so.

But KD is a legit 7 footer with a tight handle and all-time level shooting ability. At this point he has to be considered a big man IMO.

He's essentially a stretch 4 now, with some minutes at the 5 mixed in for good measure. He should be the gold standard for skilled "big men" at this point, no?

Disagree. To me his handles are average and he gets away with a lot of carrying.

The entire NBA gets away with carrying.

Also, please name a 7 footer with better handles, I'd love to compare.

Big men to me is not about height but about playing style. Garnett liked to play in the perimeter but he was much closer to Aldridge - who is almost a dinossaur in today's league - than any stretch 4. He was still a big men in the sense the he would post up and be the rim protector on defense.

KD is taller than a bunch of "big men", but he's really a wing.

So i'd say no. KD is not the most skilled big man, but he's the tallest great wing ever.

He's just a tall G. He ain't no bigman.

You can't have little girl arms and be considered a big man.