Kevin Durant won't make it in the NBA

[afaSooner]

Am I the only one that argued that not only would Kevin Durant be a very good NBA player but that it wouldn't surprise me if he would dominate the NBA? Here's your chance to come out and give it up to yourself if I wasn't. I remember a lot of basketball fans claiming Kevin would not be successful in the NBA. Just to revisit this subject let's look at the facts:

Kevin Durant is 6-10 and plays like a guard. Yes he is skinny but why would that fact alone outweigh his many other attributes that indicate he's the real deal? He has the ability to play anywhere on the court because of his outside shot. He creates mismatches 98% of the time when he has the ball in his hands . Smaller quicker guys with the ability to guard Durant can't harrass his shot. Bigger/taller guys with the size to guard Durant get caught out on an island as he routinely either drives past them or draws the foul. He plays above the rim, he's a fantastic free throw shooter, and like a guard can penetrate the lane almost at will. You add all that up and you're looking at a top 3 guy in the NBA right now.

In all seriousness it's easy to under appreciate a Horn and for that fact alone I can understand the other side of this debate but there was definitely two sides to this thing. Does anyone else remember the opinions on Durant before and after the NBA draft? All I heard was how Greg Oden was the easy pick and how Durant wouldn't be nearly as effective in the NBA as he was in college. Turns out that Durant was actually less effective in college than now as a pro. It's been the other way around.

 

[NickZepp]

I think almost everyone thought he would be good but I don't know if I thought he would lead the league in scoring by his 4th year in the NBA especially with LeBron, Kobe, and DWade still in the league. He may already be in their class in the NBA as far as top players and he can still get better.

 

[Smash Williams]

The vast majority of basketball fans were saying that Durant was going to be an NBA superstar, with many arguing that Durant should have been drafted ahead of Oden. I think the only people who argued that Durant wouldn't be a good NBA player were a few delusional OU fans who were relying on wishful thinking rather than critical thinking.

 

[seniorsooner]

The vast majority of basketball fans were saying that Durant was going to be an NBA superstar, with many arguing that Durant should have been drafted ahead of Oden. I think the only people who argued that Durant wouldn't be a good NBA player were a few delusional OU fans who were relying on wishful thinking rather than critical thinking.

+1

 

[afaSooner]

The vast majority of basketball fans were saying that Durant was going to be an NBA superstar, with many arguing that Durant should have been drafted ahead of Oden. I think the only people who argued that Durant wouldn't be a good NBA player were a few delusional OU fans who were relying on wishful thinking rather than critical thinking.

May have been the case nation wide but on OU boards you were ripped if you said anything to the effect of him leading the league in scoring or developing into an AllStar. I get it. I really do. I guess we should expect that to some extent. Just like in football, say anything complimentary about Texas or its players and all logic goes right out the window. :ez-laugh:

 

[Seymore Cox]

May have been the case nation wide but on OU boards you were ripped if you said anything to the effect of him leading the league in scoring or developing into an AllStar. I get it. I really do. I guess we should expect that to some extent. Just like in football, say anything complimentary about Texas or its players and all logic goes right out the window. :ez-laugh:

You missed me on this one. I don't know of any 6'10 guy shooting from 35 ft ever being projected as an average pro.

 

[JBaker]

At the time, I thought the Blazers were idiotic for drafting Oden over him.

But what do I know?

 

[OUhoops11]

He's really, really good. The scary thing is, he can improve significantly.

 

[Mookie Metropolitan]

Patting yourself on the back for predicting that Kevin Durant would be good?

Can you please start a thread to allow those who tied their shoes correctly this morning to pat themselves on the back? Thanks and good job.

 

[Darwin]

Yes I did say Oden was worthy of a normal 1st pick but a Durant type talent only comes around every few years and Seattle was lucky that Portland picked Oden. I also still believe Magic is better than Bird but that's another thread.

 

[McG78]

[sarcasm]

While we are on the subject of giving credit where credit is do, I'm going to congratulate myself for predicting Blake would go number one overall last year. I remember getting on here after the elite 8 game and saying it.

[/sarcasm]

 

[Mr.B!!!]

The funniest thing is that people were laughing at his "bench press" numbers...like that really matters or something. Strength is about # 6 on the lists of attributes of an NBA player, probably behind FT percentage.

 

[earlpearl]

I have always loved Durant's game. A man that size should not be able to do the things he does.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I have always loved Durant's game. A man that size should not be able to do the things he does.

But but but but but he only benched 185 like 5 times you imbecile.

 

[Cheno]

I don't remember anyone saying Durant wouldn't be a great pro. That guy was a given as a superstar.

You may be confused with me saying Beasley wouldn't be that good and he was the 2nd coming of Glenn "The Big Dog" Robinson and people telling me I was crazy. Hmmmm?

 

[coolm]

I had no clue he'd be this good.

Plus, he's funny. See him downtown a bunch and you'd swear he's like 15 coming to see his dad at the office or something. Well aside from the fact he looks 8 feet tall.

He's all about being friendly too. Really good kid from everything you see and hear. Makes it nice to have that type on the OKC team.

 

[Cheno]

I had no clue he'd be this good.

Plus, he's funny. See him downtown a bunch and you'd swear he's like 15 coming to see his dad at the office or something. Well aside from the fact he looks 8 feet tall.

He's all about being friendly too. Really good kid from everything you see and hear. Makes it nice to have that type on the OKC team.

That's good to hear.

 

[JHop71]

I think most (all?) of the anti-Durat camp was really just pro-Oden. I'm sure everyone on here thought KD was the best pic at the time , but you have to remember that that was a big debate that year.

 

[chasephill68]

I think almost everyone thought he would be good but I don't know if I thought he would lead the league in scoring by his 4th year in the NBA especially with LeBron, Kobe, and DWade still in the league. He may already be in their class in the NBA as far as top players and he can still get better.

This is KD's 3rd year in the league I believe.. I also recall nothing but love for Durant out of college dude has some SPECIAL skills. He is a major reason I am a HUGE Thunder fan.

 

[afaSooner]

Patting yourself on the back for predicting that Kevin Durant would be good?

Can you please start a thread to allow those who tied their shoes correctly this morning to pat themselves on the back? Thanks and good job.

Yes I am. :ez-laugh:

Not just good either but he would dominate the NBA. Easy to say now and it appears I'm not the only one that saw this coming. It's still early to say he's dominating the NBA NOW (we'll have to see how many titles he wins) but as good as he is now he'll only get better. That's scary.