I hate to break it to Kevin Durant, but the Oklahoma City Thunder forward is not the best player in the NBA.
He’s arguably not even in the top three right now.
Durant recently spoke at a NIKE promotional event in Spain, where he addressed a number of topics, including where he stands among the league’s top players.
“I’ve been rehabbing. I’m been cleared to play. I’m 100 percent healthy,” Durant told attendees. “I’ve been in the gym just trying to get better. Trying to get this foot healthy. I’m just looking forward to next season. I miss playing the game. I miss competing. I miss my teammates. I miss Thunder Arena, I miss everything about the NBA. I’m excited to get back. Hopefully, it’s a great year for us.”
Durant later added: “I think we have a really good team. We have to come together and play as one. That’s harder than people realize, but we’re ready to take on the challenge. We’re under the radar right now, exactly where we want to be. Looking forward to having a good season, and yes, I’m still the best player in the world.”
You have to appreciate the confidence Durant is showing despite coming off an injury that limited him to just 27 games in 2014-15. He averaged 25.7 points, but his injury, along with the injury issues superstar teammate Russell Westbrook dealt with, were enough to derail OKC’s season and cause it to miss the playoffs.
The best player in the NBA is LeBron James. That’s been the case for several years, probably since the 2010-11 season, when James led the Miami Heat to the first of four straight NBA Finals appearances. No one has the complete package of skills that James brings to the court. He can play all five positions with a unique blend of skill, size and athleticism last seen in Magic Johnson.
Anthony Davis emerged as a superstar last season and is now the second or third best player in the world. The New Orleans Pelicans center helped lead his team to the playoffs in a tough Western Conference last season by averaging 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He’s arguably the favorite for the next MVP award.
Durant’s former teammate and Houston Rockets guard James Harden also has a case as a top three player. Harden finished second in MVP voting last season. The reigning MVP, Stephen Curry, led the Golden State Warriors to their first title since 1974-75 with a remarkable 2014-15 campaign, and you could make a strong argument that he’s now better than Durant.
The objective for Durant shouldn’t be worrying about who’s the best player in the league, it should be winning an NBA crown.
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
