The NBA is home to a lot of talented players. Diversity is a keyword to use when we talk about the players we had in the league. The big men from the 70s, the pure scorers in the 80s, and the flashy guys in the 2000s were unique. The latest crop of players has revolutionized the game with their shooting beyond the arc. Kevin Durant has been an offensive machine in the league for a long time as he picked his All-time favorite NBA players in a recent interview.
So who were they?
Kevin Durant picks his best players
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KD is one of the best shooters in the game’s history as he picked his best five along with seven other players who he regarded as the best.
It is safe to say that he did a good job. The first five players included LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Durant himself, and the great Hakeem Olajuwon. This looks like a fantasy roster created in NBA 2K game. Likewise, his second team comprised Stephen Curry, Magic Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki, and the dominant Shaquille O’Neal. The chances of both these teams facing each other look like a dream prospect. Finally, Durant picks AD and Kevin Garnett as his final two players.
Some names on that list are quite incredible, be it scoring, or defending, or even the intangibles these men produced on the court. So let’s have some fun, and see what might happen if these two colossal teams had met each other.
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A match for the ages
From a purist point of view, team one would beat team two hands down. The likes of LeBron, MJ, Kobe, and KD make it unguardable for defenders. In addition, they have Hakeem who was a two-time NBA champion. However, we just can’t put the second team down the drain. Stephen Curry alone could wreak havoc beyond the arc if given the ball. Likewise, Magic Johnson could play all the positions on the court because of his physical attributes.
Then comes McGrady, who is one of the most explosive players in the league’s history. Despite being one of the non-flashy names on the list, the influence of T-Mac was incredible. In a game against the San Antonio Spurs, McGrady put up a legendary performance to win the game for the Houston Rockets. It remains to be the most memorable night in NBA history.
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The final two names on that team were Dirk and Shaq. The former played in the NBA for 21 seasons while shooting above 20 points per game in many seasons while the latter needs no introduction. Meanwhile, the final two picks in his list were Anthony Davis and Kevin Garnett. The NBA inducted KG into the Hall of Fame class of 2020 for his accomplishments in the game of basketball.
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As intriguing as the match-up will be, Durant himself is one of the best scorers in the NBA. Moreover, he is chasing his 3rd NBA title this season. The players he selected are world-beaters who influenced the game in their way, and left an everlasting impression on the league.
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