The title of the best player in the NBA depends on many things. However, it is not an easy one to maintain. For defenders, they focus on key matchups, but they can’t hack everyone. There are some who are just way too skilled, which makes defending them really hard. Recently, Patrick Beverley made his pick and left out big names such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.

Beverley is a defensive savant. He is a controversial figure in the NBA as his passion often gets the best of his emotions. But, when a defensive player is asked about the toughest player to guard, it has to be someone who has given them serious trouble. And according to Beverley, young Luka Doncic is the toughest to defend.

However, he said it in the most Patrick Beverley way possible. But who are the potential players he left out? Let’s have a look at the same.

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Patrick Beverley leaves out LeBron James and Kevin Durant

While his pick isn’t wrong, it sure took many by surprise. But considering their last two playoff battles, Doncic may just be the toughest player for Beverley in recent times. Even last year, Doncic gave the Clippers a hard time, scoring 35 points per night while averaging a near triple-double.

The young star took them to seven games in the second round of the playoffs but fell short in the end. As we know very well by now, Patrick Beverley isn’t someone who will back down from a challenge.

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He said: “I’m on his a** this year too.”

While he doesn’t mean any disrespect to Luka, could he have done so by leaving out some obvious names? The first one that pops up without question is Kevin Durant. Although they haven’t had any fierce battles in recent times, the Warriors era was a totally different story.

They would face each other almost every year in the playoffs and Kevin Durant did not hold back. Another one is Stephen Curry, who has had many battles with Beverley like Durant. What’s more? He surprisingly forgot his former LA rival, LeBron James. Beverley and LeBron have always been at loggerheads during games through the years. Hence, it is surprising for Beverley chose not to pick one of them as the toughest players to guard.

Do you think LeBron James and Kevin Durant are tougher to guard compared to Luka Doncic? Let us know in the comments below.

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