Having moved past his tough four-year stint with the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant is looking for his first championship outside of Golden State. His performances for the Phoenix Suns have been great so far, but the team is struggling with injuries. We are yet to witness the full extent of their offensive prowess but will do so soon with the return of Bradley Beal. Nonetheless, the onus lies on KD to lead this team to the promised land. With the likes of Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid staking their claim as the best players in the league, former NBA star Rasheed Wallace made a bold proclamation.

It all started a few days ago. Kevin Durant’s name was brought up during a recent episode of the ‘Gil’s Arena’ podcast. Rasheed Wallace went out of his way to claim that if he had to choose the best player in the league, he would have to side with Durant. Wallace even proposed to place him in his hypothetical team made up of the top 5 players ever.

Kevin Durant’s ability as a small forward is unmatched

When discussing the same, the former player claimed that he would put Durant at the small forward position, simply based on his efficiency in handling the ball. “He doesn’t have to do a million dribbles to get a bucket or make a pass. It’s either one or two dribbles,” said Wallace during the segment.

When placed into context, Wallace’s reasoning makes sense. Over his 16-year NBA career, fans have noticed how Durant can easily take a shot whenever he wants. His length and smooth footwork permit him to do so. It allows the player to get to his favorite spots without any difficulty. This is a valuable skill that serves KD well at the small forward position, without allowing him to be easily prone to injuries.

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Durant’s efficiency as a small forward is coming out during the current season. Out of the 18/20 games that he has played for the Phoenix Suns, he is averaging 31 points, 5.8 assists, and 6.4 rebounds, while shooting 51.2% from the field.

Wallace believes that Durant plays the best basketball since he “keeps it simple”. This ‘simplicity’ allows him to perform well as a ‘clutch player’. It lets him make most of the pivotal shots that seal the victory for his team. A prominent example of the same occurred during the 2017 and 2018 seasons when Durant led the Golden State Warriors to back-to-back championship victories.

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He was named the Finals MVP on both occasions. This is the reason why Durant is amongst the top 5 clutch players of all time and why Wallace’s praise for him is definitely justified.

With the help of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant is making his mark as a playmaker

Rasheed Wallace also complimented Kevin Durant’s playmaking skills. He stated how the latter would often “pull up, or shoot or lay it up, or find guys, either one of them”. This particular viewpoint of Wallace holds merit as well, seeing as how Durant has done his best to help his team while maintaining his scoring averages.

Fans have seen an improvement in Durant’s playmaking skills, which have trickled down to his new team as well. During a recent 7 game streak, the Suns managed to average 3.4 more assists per game than their first 10 games of the season. Furthermore, the turnovers per game were almost 3.7 points less than said initial games. The main reason for this improvement can be attributed to Durant teaming up with Devin Booker, who has taken a major offensive role with the team.

The duo has managed to find a way to bypass the opposing defenders, using feeds off drives and quick skip passes to easily get the ball through the hoop. Their combined efforts have helped the team reach a 115.1 offensive rating.

Durant is not a natural-born leader. This reported fact has been agreed upon by various people, including his former teammate and current rival Draymond Green. Through his offensive role as a player, however, the 35-year-old has succeeded in uplifting his team without having to lead them.

In the world of professional basketball, debates and opinions about who is “the best player in the league” are constantly subject to change. However, at the moment, there is no denying the fact that KD is not only the best player currently but one of the greatest of all time. Rasheed Wallace’s opinion is something that is backed by Durant’s playmaking skills, scoring ability, and his performance as a clutch player. The 35-year-old has left no doubt in letting people believe that he is currently the best player in the league.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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