Kevin Durant is willing to give up his spot on the All-Star team…if you can beat him one-on-one.
The reigning NBA MVP is willing to give up his spot on the Western Conference All-Star team if you have what it takes to beat Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant one-on-one.
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Durant has been in and out of the lineup this season for the Thunder, playing a total of 23 games out of a possible 50 for Oklahoma City who is currently three games behind the Phoenix Suns for the eighth and final playoff spot, but still was named as a reserve for the All-Star Game.
His selection has raised some eyebrows across the league for his inclusion over some other worthy candidates, such as Portland’s Damian Lillard, but Durant issued a challenge to anyone who wants to take his spot on the roster.
Maybe a one-on-one competition can replace one of the events the night before the game. Say goodbye to the shooting stars challenge and let’s see KD vs Lillard play to 11.
Think that would generate some excitement and bring in the ratings?
Compared to the slam dunk contest which has consistently been a bore over the last decade and the occasionally entertaining three-point contest, I think this would be the main event of All-Star Saturday, provided the players actually gave it 100%. Unlike the actual All-Star Game when defense is a foreign concept and dunks and long three’s are the name of the game.
Durant is merely making a joke here and I don’t think NBA commissioner Adam Silver would take me up on my idea of a one-on-one event prior to the game, but for those criticizing Durant’s inclusion on the All-Star Game, r-e-l-a-x.
Last year’s MVP is averaging 25.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in the games he’s played so it’s not as if he’s having a poor year, it’s just that we haven’t seen Durant for 45-50 games.
If he didn’t have his injuries this year, he’s in the starting lineup, so I don’t have an issue with him on the team. But the greatest point to make here is it is an exhibition game where the fans want to see the game’s best players on the court at the same time.
What would an All-Star Game be without Durant?
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