NBA Rankings: Top 10 small forwards for 2014-15
2. Kevin Durant:
2013-14 Stat Line: 81 games, 38.5 MPG, 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, .503/.391/.873 shooting, 29.9 PER
The toughest decision of this list came down to Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James for the No. 1 spot. On the one hand, Durant did have the better 2013-14 regular season and no one can say he didn’t earn that first MVP award. On the other hand, Durant is still ringless and LeBron probably still deserves to be regarded as the world’s best player. On the other other hand though, Durant’s defensive numbers were actually better than LeBron’s last season and KD is barely entering his prime now at 25 years old. On the other other other hand….
You get the point. This is an impossible decision and you can’t really go wrong either way. It’s only a matter of time before LeBron hands over the title of world’s best player to the Durantula, but I’m going to say that doesn’t happen for another two or three years. That being said, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Durant repeat as MVP next season either.
Why? Well, aside from the Herculean 32-7-5 stat line he put up this season, Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are starting to realize that even though they’re only just entering their primes, the clock is always ticking. That title window is one more Russell Westbrook or Serge Ibaka injury away from slamming shut. With Durant’s impending 2016 free agency starting to loom large over OKC, there will be a sense of urgency to finally break through and win a title, and that all starts with the reigning MVP.