“He Would Have Surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar”: Looming Doubts Over Kevin Durant’s Legacy Put to Bed by NBA Analyst

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant has been under the limelight recently for not only giving a befitting reply to NBA legend Charles Barkley’s criticisms but also for opening up about his legacy. A couple of days ago, Durant expressed that he doesn’t care about his legacy like he used to do previously. This statement of the Suns guard made many across the basketball world talk about his legacy. In light of this, a noted NBA analyst recently revealed his thoughts about the two-time champion and his legacy, drawing comparisons to the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith was full of praise for Kevin Durant and made a bold statement related to him that would perhaps amuse a lot of fans.

Stephen A. Smith on Kevin Durant’s legacy amid Barkley’s sharp criticism

In the latest monologue shared on his YouTube channel, Smith weighed in on a plethora of topics before talking about the 13x All-Star. In the video, in one instance, the now 55-year-old said that he didn’t like the way Charles Barkley has criticized Durant over the years.

Subsequently, he added, “I’m not disrespecting Kevin Durant that way, I’m not doing it. He’s a two-time champion – the two-time NBA Finals MVP – He’s a career 27-point-per-game scorer – He’s a scoring machine – He is one of the elite offensive forces the game has ever seen without question.”

The ESPN analyst continued and proceeded to make a bold statement. He said,  “If it were not for injuries, he[Durant] would have passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar if not have been close enough already. He’s that lethal.”

Smith further added that he called the two-time champion’s move to the Golden State Warriors the weakest move for the following reason, “What I was trying to say is not that he wasn’t great. He’s so great, that he’s so drastically shifted the balance of power and robbed us all of competition. I didn’t bother watching much of the NBA that season.”

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Well, many in the basketball world might have raised questions about Durant’s legacy, but Smith made a bold argument in an attempt to cement KD’s already opulent legacy.

KD is on a roll after his return from injury

The 13x All-Star was out for a long time since early March due to a left ankle sprain. However, he joined his teammates recently and played three games with them. In those three games, the 2x Finals MVP showcased who truly he was. He dropped 30 and 35 points in his last two games against the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder respectively along with dropping 16 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It seems Durant is slowly picking up his form and looking forward to winning the title once again with his new team.

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What are your thoughts on Stephen A. Smith’s take on Kevin Durant and his legacy? Let us know in the comments below.