We’re far enough into the NBA season for award talk to begin picking up steam, and as with any year, folks are hotly debating the Most Valuable Player honor. There are a number of distinguished candidates carrying their teams and accumulating statistics across the league, but the Nets’ Kevin Durant has his own strong case building.
Looking at Durant’s basic counting stats, few can match his production.
He’s averaging 29.9 points to go along with 6.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Few come close to those numbers, as only Luka Doncic is ahead of Durant in all three categories.
What’s even more impressive is his efficiency. Durant is hitting a ridiculous 62 percent from inside the arc, 36 percent from three-point land, and 93 percent from the free-throw line. Despite his MVP-level volume, his true-shooting percentage is eighth highest in the league, with only Nikola Jokic and role players ahead of him.
His strong shooting percentage from inside the arc is remarkable given the degree of difficulty on those looks. Durant is the constant focus of collapsing defenses and thrives on tough mid-range shots to find space.
The fact that he can bury those kinds of looks, fading away, off the dribble, or even over two defenders at such a high rate is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan never eclipsed the two-point shooting mark Durant is scoring at right now over a full season.
As indicated by his assist numbers, Durant is doing well to leverage the defense’s attention which has allowed his teammates to get great looks. His big frame makes it tough to crowd his eye-line or deflect his passes, though he’s done so to others.
The offensive end has arguably been secondary in Durant’s impact on winning. He’s been a staunch free safety on defense for Brooklyn, using his athleticism to cover a ton of ground and cause havoc. Durant has swatted 1.6 shots per night and looks very comfortable doing so.
It’s this that perhaps best separates him from the competition in terms of value. Doncic and Steph Curry, while respectable, don’t add much to their teams defensively. Durant, on the other hand, is arguably the anchor of his team.
Of course, Durant is also up against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum, two similarly dominant wings on better teams in his conference. Perhaps his production won’t convince voters he’s more valuable than those two, but relative to their teams it might.
Also less of an issue now, Durant’s teammates aren’t of the highest caliber. If you were to compare where the Nets would be without their star versus the Bucks, Celtics, 76ers or Warriors, it would become immediately clear just how valuable Durant is to Brooklyn compared to the rest.
Durant’s co-star is an aging Kyrie Irving, who once again missed time due to his own non-basketball decision-making. Behind him is the shell of Ben Simmons, who had missed time due to injuries and a host of good, but not great, role players.
While the chemistry and team play has been undeniably strong of late, it’s fundamentally Durant’s show in Brooklyn.
Eight of the team’s twelve losses have come when Durant shot below 55 percent from the field. They are now the fourth seed for a number of reasons, but primarily because Durant has completely taken over games at times.
Some feel inclined to disqualify Durant from this race due to his summer shenanigans. Can somebody be the Most Valuable Player after requesting a trade, rescinding that request on the promise that the entire front office is expunged, only to finally sit pat after not getting what they wanted?
That question answered itself when Brooklyn worked to reconcile with Durant, and he in turn gave them some of the best production we’ve seen out of a basketball player. He’s so valuable, all that melodrama can fade to the background in the wake of a contender made anew thanks to his play.
Narrative always plays a role in the MVP vote, and who doesn’t love a redemption story? ‘Durant leads Nets to contention after franchise was on the brink,’ can sell if the team finishes as a high seed.
The season is far from over, but the makings of a legitimate MVP run for Durant are there. His game speaks for itself but his circumstances, albeit largely self-made, separate him from the rest of the pack.