5 scariest players in the NBA to defend
By Roje Smith
4. Kevin Durant – Golden State Warriors
Although his slim and wiry frame isn’t very intimidating, the same can’t be said for his game. Ever since arriving to the league in 2007, Kevin Durant has been an offensive juggernaut. He is a four-time scoring champion, seven-time All-Star and a former league MVP. His scoring ability is so great that some experts have compared him to Michael Jordan. However, what sets Durant apart is his size.
Standing at 6-foot-9 with a ridiculous 7-foot-4 wingspan, Durant’s jump shot is virtually impossible to block. Even the most athletic defenders can’t seem to get their hands on the ball once he elevates for the shot. It wouldn’t be too big of a problem if Durant made his shots once in a while, but that’s not the case. His field goal percentage has been over 50 percent over the last four seasons. Additionally, his career free throw percentage is .882. Players as long as he is should not be able to shoot so well.
Durant also has the ability to drive to the basket and easily dunk over defenders. Additionally, his ball handling ability is nothing to take lightly. KD can and will perform nasty crossovers on defenders. One might think his long arms would be a disadvantage in that case, but it’s not. He has the ability of a player several inches shorter than him while taking advantage of his incredible length. In short, Durant is a true freak of nature and one of the scariest players to defend in the league.