When was Kevin Durant's peak as a player?

[euroleague]

KD has been good for so many years. Since 2012, he's been in the discussion for the best player in the league. Which year do you think was his best?

[70sFan]

Either one of 2014, 2016 or 2017, with 2013 and 2018 not far behind.

If I had to choose, I'd probably go with 2017 because how he proved that he could fit extremely well within a much different system. Some may say that Warriors versions are better defensively, but I don't find anything special in his defense to be honest. 2016 is basically identical to 2017, only with significantly worse shooting in playoffs mostly caused by carrying much heavier load. Maybe I should go with 2016 or 2014 to be honest.

Don't see any case for 2021. I don't know why 2020 is an option, as he didn't play a single game in that season.

[euroleague]

Either one of 2014, 2016 or 2017, with 2013 and 2018 not far behind.

If I had to choose, I'd probably go with 2017 because how he proved that he could fit extremely well within a much different system. Some may say that Warriors versions are better defensively, but I don't find anything special in his defense to be honest. 2016 is basically identical to 2017, only with significantly worse shooting in playoffs mostly caused by carrying much heavier load. Maybe I should go with 2016 or 2014 to be honest.

Don't see any case for 2021. I don't know why 2020 is an option, as he didn't play a single game in that season.

2017 seems to get a lot of love, because he won that year over LBJ/Kyrie and the team went 16-1...

However, individually, it seems like he was way better in 13 and 14. Pre-injury, he was more explosive and had better man defense, in my opinion... although his help wasn’t as good.

[Jaivl]

Either one of 2014, 2016 or 2017, with 2013 and 2018 not far behind.

If I had to choose, I'd probably go with 2017 because how he proved that he could fit extremely well within a much different system. Some may say that Warriors versions are better defensively, but I don't find anything special in his defense to be honest. 2016 is basically identical to 2017, only with significantly worse shooting in playoffs mostly caused by carrying much heavier load. Maybe I should go with 2016 or 2014 to be honest.

Don't see any case for 2021. I don't know why 2020 is an option, as he didn't play a single game in that season.

2017 seems to get a lot of love, because he won that year over LBJ/Kyrie and the team went 16-1...

However, individually, it seems like he was way better in 13 and 14. Pre-injury, he was more explosive and had better man defense, in my opinion... although his help wasn’t as good.

He's not nearly the marksman he would later become, though, and not really a good passer yet. Is a bit more acceleration enough to offset that? Ehhh I don't know.

[ardee]

2014 for me. Pre-injury he just had a different gear.

His GSW efficiency doesn't mean much to me given the circumstances. In Brooklyn he didn't have the same physical gifts.

2014 was just a great year. Led a really good team and he probably wins his first title that year if they don't happen to be in the same year as the historical buzzsaw that was the Spurs.

[LukaTheGOAT]

I think 2017 KD is a level up defensively from any OKC version on defense except maybe 2016. Feel like those are the 2 big years I would consider.

[Homer38]

2014 for me especially in January in that year

Yes he was better in defense in 2017 but at the same time his load on offense was much less, which helped to have more energy in defense

[No-more-rings]

Well his peak playoff ability is either 2017 or 2019, but when you consider durability, motor and all that it's likely 2014. His best regular season easily, and when Westbrook was out KD was flat out carrying them. His playoff performance wasn't all time great or anything but I wouldn't consider it garbage. He faced a tough matchup against the Grizzlies and Tony Allen, but still finished the series strong at least, destroyed the Clippers and at least played decent against a strong Spurs team.

People really shouldn't be fooled though by his insane efficiency in Golden State. KD went from a 54 ts% in the playoffs in 2016 to 68 the next year in GS. No one makes some massive offensive leap like that from age 27 to 28. Aside from a few rare exceptions like Nash or Hakeem. I don't really care what kind of defense he played that year, he had plenty of years in OKC to showcase good defensive impact and never did.

[cupcakesnake]

Some may say that Warriors versions are better defensively, but I don't find anything special in his defense to be honest.

I agree that KD wasn't fundamentally a better defender with the Warriors (in terms of ability, focus, effort) but the Warriors utilized him more effectively/put him in a better role. OKC Durant didn't have much defensive responsibility or accountability. He was sort of useful by virtue of being so tall and mobile, but he and Westbrook mostly let the OKC designated defenders (Thabo, Ibaka, Perkins/Adams) do all the heavy lifting on that end. Durant has always had poor awareness. You think Durant could have been a monster defender at the nail in OKC's system, but he didn't do nearly as much as you'd hope in terms of being a help defender. Solid man-to-man guy in most matchups when he gets into a stance and tries to contest shots.

In Oakland, in the context of an elite aggressive defense and next to a unique defender like Draymond, I feel the Dubs were able to squeeze more defensive value out of Durant. He fit very snugly in the death lineup where his length really added some rim protection to a unit that was more about being aggressive and forcing turnovers. He was never relied on too much next to geniuses like Iggy and Draymond (and good man defenders like Klay and Livingston). He was probably never more than the 3rd or 4th most important defender in most lineups. But the role felt perfect for him and much more defined than it ever was in OKC.

I'm aware this is mostly about the team and coaching more than Durant, but I still think it's worth noting as support for his Warriors years being his prime.

[SideshowBob]

2014 for me. Pre-injury he just had a different gear.

His GSW efficiency doesn't mean much to me given the circumstances. In Brooklyn he didn't have the same physical gifts.

2014 was just a great year. Led a really good team and he probably wins his first title that year if they don't happen to be in the same year as the historical buzzsaw that was the Spurs.

Yes 2014 or pre-injury 2015 would be my picks as well.

[ShotCreator]

His awful series recently made me go re-watch his prime highlights. And despite being thinner than any point of his career these days, he isn’t creating nearly the same separation as before.

Guys can actually block his pull up jumper now. Grant Williams and Tatum did whatever they wanted to his jumper.

From 13-15 he was creating prime Jordan level separation on jumpers, all his sets up dribbles, and his drives were more explosive. It’s been downhill ever since.

[No-more-rings]

His awful series recently made me go re-watch his prime highlights. And despite being thinner than any point of his career these days, he isn’t creating nearly the same separation as before.

Guys can actually block his pull up jumper now. Grant Williams and Tatum did whatever they wanted to his jumper.

From 13-15 he was creating prime Jordan level separation on jumpers, all his sets up dribbles, and his drives were more explosive. It’s been downhill ever since.

Maybe it's been more gradual than I realized, but watching that series against Boston I was a little shocked at how much he's declined athletically.