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Basketball is all about putting the ball in the basket. If you can do that, you can make millions of dollars. Kevin Durant is among the best players to accomplish this seemingly simple task, as his stats make it look easy. Here’s a look at KD’s career and why he’s among the best to ever play.
Why KD Is a Basketball Anomaly
Physical attributes significantly affect your basketball abilities. Height is nonnegotiable in most cases, as it puts you closer to the basket. For example, Michael Jordan is 6’6” and was large for a 1980s shooting guard, which helped him be among the top basketball stars ever to play.
Kevin Durant is even more of an anomaly because of his height. The Houston Rockets forward is listed at 6’10”, though his height has been debated for over a decade. Some say he’s closer to 7’0” or higher, which would make him even more powerful. Durant’s height makes him taller than most small forwards he’s faced in his career.
How Height Makes a Difference
If the defender is shorter than you, it’s like you’re shooting over a chair. It took Durant a couple of years to get used to NBA-level defenses. That said, his field goal percentage has been over 50% since the 2013 season. The Slim Reaper is a good example of an ectomorph, with a tall and thin frame. He can score from anywhere on the court, which makes him a significant offensive threat.
Kevin Durant is among the best three-level scorers, as seen by his stats. He has a 39% career 3-point percentage, whereas he shoots 54.4% from 2-point range. Even if you send him to the free-throw line, he knocks them down with ease. The small forward shoots an impressive 88.2% from the charity stripe, making him as reliable as anybody.
The Most Impressive Kevin Durant Career Stats
NBA fans have watched Kevin Durant since 2007, showing his age and longevity in the league. Through two decades, he’s accumulated some impressive stats. Here are the best of his career.
1. True Shooting Percentage
True shooting percentage (TS%) measures how efficiently you shoot the ball at all levels. Big men are typically near the top, as they rely on dunks and short baskets. For instance, Rudy Gobert is first with a career TS% of 67.3.
Kevin Durant sits pretty among the power forwards and centers with a 62.1 TS% — good enough for 15th all-time. That’s impressive for someone who shoots plenty from beyond the arc. Steph Curry is the only guard in the top 15, demonstrating his greatness at the position in the modern era.
2. 50-40-90 Club Membership
The 50-40-90 club is exclusive to the elite shooters in NBA history. Only the most efficient guys have made the list since Larry Bird started it back in the 1987 season. Membership includes shooting 50% from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 90% from the free-throw line.
Slim Reaper has done it twice — once in 2013 and again in 2023. The latter was among his best seasons, as he shot a staggering 56% from the field. Regardless of where Kevin Durant gets traded, he puts up seriously efficient numbers.
3. Scoring Titles
It’s rare for a small forward to win the NBA’s annual scoring champ. This position requires a balanced skill set, whether focusing on defense or facilitating on offense. Durant has earned this achievement four times in his career, all with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his earlier days, he was reliable for a 30-point game.
Winning the scoring title once is an achievement in itself. However, getting it multiple times is a spectacular feat. Durantula’s four scoring titles tie him with George Gervin and Allen Iverson. He only trails Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain for the most ever. He might not catch Wilt, but he’s already in great company.
4. Offensive Win Shares
Now, it’s time to dive into analytics. Offensive win shares (OWS) measure how many victories a player adds through scoring, assists and shooting efficiency. The league average matters, as the formula includes how you contribute to your team’s wins.
Durant is 12th all-time in OWS, just behind James Harden. He’s ahead of some of the best players ever, including Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Longevity and consistency matter for the career total. That’s why you see Slim Reaper there with Dirk Nowitzki, Oscar Robertson and other legends.
5. Olympic Basketball
Playing great basketball in the United States is vital. However, you can define your career by excelling on the international stage. Kevin Durant is the king of Olympic basketball stats, boasting four gold medals. Only LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are close with three, at least on the men’s side.
Besides medals, Durant also leads the U.S. Olympic team in all-time points. The small forward has scored 518 points across four tournaments, totaling a career average of 18.5 points per game. These metrics are by far the best of any player, even LeBron and Michael Jordan.
Totaling Kevin Durant’s Career Stats
Durantula has been an NBA staple since getting drafted in 2007. If you’re a ball knower, you understand his greatness. Here’s a look at his career stats through his first 18 seasons.
| Points | 30,571 (27.2 per game) |
| Rebounds | 7,828 (6.9 per game) |
| Assists | 4,908 (4.4 per game) |
| Steals | 1,174 (1.0 per game) |
| Blocks | 1,273 (1.1 per game) |
| FG% | 50.2 |
| 3PT% | 39.0 |
| Games played | 1,120 |
| Minutes played | 41,237 |
| Field goals made | 20,999 |
Ranking Kevin Durant All-Time
NBA fans love to debate the best players of all time and rankings. You can argue until you’re blue in the face about Michael Jordan or LeBron James being the top guy. That said, fans argue just as much about Kevin Durant, despite his impressive stats.
Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016 was unforgivable to numerous fans and Hall of Fame players. Yes, he won two championships with the new team. However, some say he took the easy route. Meanwhile, guys like Hakeem Olajuwon and Dirk Nowitzki won without joining super teams.
The all-time NBA list will forever be subjective. You can put Durant at 10th or 50th, whichever you prefer. However, it’s hard to deny that he’s one of the best players of the 21st century. Two championships and four Olympic gold medals are genuinely spectacular.
Measuring KD’s Greatness in Basketball Lore
Some people love Kevin Durant, whereas others are on the receiving end of his snarky tweets. Despite being chronically online, KD is one of the best NBA players ever. His physical traits and offensive skills are rare for someone his size. It would be surprising to see a replica of him anytime soon.
