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Reuters

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Reuters

Team USA successfully won their 4th consecutive gold medal in the Olympics. Unsurprisingly, it was Kevin Durant who led them to glory. Moreover, he also broke the USA Olympic scoring record, surpassing Carmelo Anthony.

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Now, there have been many great scorers in NBA history. However, there has never been one like Durant. This is because of his size and sheer ability to score the basketball. Hence, he is one of the greatest scorers of all time, but who is the greatest ever?

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NBA legend, Gilbert Arenas, made his pick for the greatest scorer of all time, and it may surprise you.

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Arenas says Kevin Durant is the greatest scorer of all time

In a conversation, Arenas was asked who is the greatest scorer ever. While Gilbert is a Michael Jordan fan, he picked Durant as the greatest scorer ever. He said that the argument will always go on among fans. However, as a basketball player, he picked KD because of how he scores.

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Arenas said, “As a basketball fan who understands the game, the way Kevin Durant scores is really effortless. He can’t actually be stopped, controlled, or challenged because of his height, his shooting. So, he is probably……. the easiest bucket getter in NBA history.”

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He further explained how Jordan never had a great second-scoring option on his team. On the other hand, the ‘Slim Reaper’ has played with some elite offensive players such as Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Klay Thompson. Hence, Durant had to sacrifice his game more, as compared to Jordan, who had the entire offensive load on his back.

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Given these stats, Arenas believes MJ and Durant are not far apart as KD did not have a player who averaged 20 points just 3 times in his career. He capped it all of by saying: “So, it is Kevin Durant um…, in my opinion and I’m a Jordan fanatic.”

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Who is the better scorer? Durant or Jordan

In the eyes of many, Arenas’ points may not seem valid. However, he makes an excellent case for KD. Michael Jordan has never had the offensive help that Durant has had throughout his career. Scottie Pippen was always the defensive presence on the floor and Jordan had the sole job of putting the ball through the hoop, which is why his stats are superior to Kevin.

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Durant has played with players who have the capability of being the first option on a team. In his time with the Warriors, Stephen Curry had a better scoring season in 2019, averaging 27 points to Kevin’s 26 per game. So, Durant has had to sacrifice his offense for these other players.

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Moreover, he is a much better deep shooter than Michael Jordan. Durant has shot 39% from three as compared to Jordan’s 32%. KD can shoot over anyone and has all the offensive tools to finish at will. To sum it up, one can make a fair argument for Kevin Durant to be the greatest scorer of all time.

Who do you think is the greatest scorer ever? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,468 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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