NBA: Top 5 Christmas Performances

5. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, 2010 vs. Denver Nuggets

Durant and the Thunder were a team on the rise. They clinched their first playoff berth the year before during the 2009-10 season and pushed the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, to six games in the first round. Durant led the league that year in scoring, contributing 30.1 points a game and, in the 2010-11 season, Durant’s star continued to grow.

Playing in his first Christmas day game, Durant showed he was ready for the big stage. In 41 minutes, Durant hoisted 20 shots and scored 44 points; an absolute model of efficiency. Durant had a field-three-free percentage line of 70-57.1-80.0 that amounted to an astounding 82.7 percent true shooting percentage.

After three quarters, Durant had 40 points, but did not force the issue in the fourth quarter when the Nuggets threw two or three defenders at him. That is where the other aspects of his game took over.

Durant also contributed seven rebounds and four assists in the game. He also played a little defense against a Denver team that had an offensive rating of 111.8 at the time, accounting for two steals and two blocks. The Thunder would prevail, 114-106.

This was one of Durant’s best performances up to that point in his career. Fans have been so used to seeing him put up these impressive performances that they forget that in this particular game, he was only 22 years old and in his fourth year in the NBA. At 22, most guys are celebrating Christmas by wearing the sweaters their grandmas knit them. Durant was carrying an NBA team. No big deal.

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