Kevin Durant Responds To ‘Greatest Scorer' Debate: 'You're Diminishing My Greatness'
Kevin Durant has heard every argument about his place among the NBA's all-time great scorers, but he's not buying into the hype — and he's pushing back against the label altogether.
After fans pointed out the fact that Durant hasn't led his team in field goal attempts per game since 2018, the 2x Finals MVP fired back with a detailed defense of his game and why he doesn't care about being called the 'greatest scorer ever.'
"30k points on low field goal attempts. I'm a coach's dream. Dime dropper, I mastered scoring at 24 years old, man," replied Durant. "Give it a rest, I don't care about being the best scorer ever. You are diminishing my all-time greatness by calling me that."
When talking about the greatest scorers in NBA history, Durant is right up there with players like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Stephen Curry. With career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, Durant's numbers are impressive, and they helped him win two championships during his 17-year career. He's also a 4x scoring leader and eighth on the All-Time scoring list with 30,571 points (on 20,999 attempts).
As someone with no weaknesses offensively, Durant can score in a myriad of ways, whether it's from beyond the arc, in the mid-range, or under the rim. At 6'11" and 240 pounds, Durant is adept at creating space and using his long wingspan to shoot over defenders. While he's taken fewer shots in recent years, Durant is still impossible to guard and is expected to continue his streak of active seasons with 20+ points per game.
Still, if you ask the former MVP himself, he'll tell you that he's much more than just a "scorer." As he explained on X, Durant sees himself as a true two-way superstar who helps his team in more ways than one. His natural height and attention to detail make him a solid rebounder for his position, while his length and mobility make him an elite and effective defender. In fact, during his second season with the Warriors, he finished ninth on the Defensive Player of the Year ballot.
In the end, Durant's legacy is about more than scoring. Through his well-rounded game, he's achieved long-term success in the NBA and has managed to keep his game at an elite level at 36 years old.
Next season, his first with the Houston Rockets, he'll have an opportunity to further enhance his legacy by leading the franchise where they haven't been since 1995. After failures in Brooklyn and Phoenix, the fans will be watching his every move, but he's ready to answer the call by delivering another All-Star season.
For Durant, the 'greatest scorer' tag may sound like a compliment, but it also risks putting him in a box. His career has been defined not just by buckets but by adaptability, efficiency, and a relentless pursuit of winning in multiple environments. As he begins his next chapter in Houston, he's out to remind everyone that his greatness can't be summed up in a single word and that his game still speaks for itself.This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Meet the 49ers undrafted rookie (with a superhero nickname) pushing for a roster spot
Even before he was the 'Hulk,' San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez was getting coaches' attention. 'The very first time I ever saw the kid, he was probably 235 pounds,' Montana State defensive coordinator Shawn Howe said in a telephone interview. 'I just watched him do a couple drills, and I said, 'That's the future of the three-tech position here at Montana State.'' Valdez already had the frame, twitchiness and tenacity. Now, 66 pounds of muscle later, he has a real shot of cracking the 49ers' 53-man roster. Valdez smiled when he heard the Niners' veteran offensive linemen call him 'Hulk.' It's not the first time he has heard the nickname as he has tried to push himself to the NFL. The 6-foot-3, 301-pounder was undrafted out of Washington — after making a tough decision to transfer from Montana State — but has turned some pretty important heads. Advertisement Coach Kyle Shanahan said Valdez was the player who 'flashed the most' in Saturday's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. 'He's been flashing a lot in practice,' Shanahan added. 'He's been a problem in one-on-ones, and it looked like he played the run well today. 'When our (offensive line) coach talks about him in practice, that means he's doing some stuff, and it was good to see it carry over to the game today.' Flashes from the rookie ⚡️ — San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 10, 2025 The block of granite had half a sack and a tackle for loss against the Broncos and, just like in college, opened up things for his teammates. 'It was a good time … it was super fun,' Valdez said. 'I wasn't nervous at all. I am just going out there trying to execute to the best of my ability and do what I'm told.' Smash. Hulk, smash. Valdez benched pressed 225 pounds 34 times at his pro day at Washington. Now, he is stacking up good days at training camp. 'When he gets opportunities against the first(-team) O-line … as he keeps proving that he's better than what he's going against, he'll get chances to go against better competition,' defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said after practice Tuesday. 'From there, if he continues, then he'll continue his rise. He still has a lot of time to prove that he can make it.' Valdez had his choice of teams as an undrafted free agent, and he thought the 49ers and Saleh were the best fit. 'I think the scheme fit me the best,' he said. 'The 49ers are known to be a very dominant front, and when you look at tape from them, you want to be part of that team, and you want to be a part of that scheme.' The 49ers have had some injuries on the defensive line, which has opened the door for Valdez — just like it did at Montana State. He had started hitting the weight room hard at Monte Vista High near San Diego, and was a strong 235 pounds when Howe first noticed him. The plan was for Valdez to build his weight up gradually, but Valdez was forced to play because of injuries in his first year in 2021. Advertisement After that, there was no stopping him. ''He would eat, go work out, then go eat and then come back, and you'd see him in there rolling out his whole body, stretching, stretching with bands,' Howe said. 'He didn't just get bigger. He got faster, twitchier, more flexible.' Montana State used a 'cheetah' package, designed for four defensive ends, on passing downs … but Valdez never came off the field. 'Every week, I would walk across the field, and somebody would shake my hand and say, 'We just can't block 95,'' Howe said. Though he didn't have huge stats — 12 sacks total from 2021-23, Valdez helped the Bobcats lead the FCS in sacks in 2023. 'I figured then that I could really be a special player, and props to my college coach, Sean Howe, for really believing me and crafting me into the player that I am,' Valdez said. 'There have been moments of doubt, and my first day here with the 49ers was a little overwhelming. 'But I know I can overcome anything, and I know I'm an NFL player at heart.' Howe knew it as well. He called Valdez after the Broncos game to tell him how proud he was. The two remain close even after Valdez transferred to Washington for a chance to get back to the West Coast (not to mention a wad of cash and a car). 'It was brutal,' Howe said of Valdez transferring. 'It was tough because he's so loved by his teammates and coaches, right? And we developed this dude. He was our guy. 'But he has such great character. He told me he was just going to look at the one school and ignored the other big schools who were offering more money. … I just think the way he dealt with the process was very, very mature and very well thought out.' Before he left, Valdez made Howe a promise: That he would give Howe his NFL jersey one day — just like he had seen current Chicago Bears linebacker Daniel Hardy once do. Advertisement 'I'm working my butt off, and as soon as I make this team, I'll have a jersey coming his way to put on his wall,' Valdez said. • Left guard Ben Bartch appeared to injure his right arm on a running play early in Tuesday's team period. He was replaced by seventh-round rookie Connor Colby, who held up well in Saturday's game. Nick Zakelj practiced at right guard with the second-team unit and got some repetitions at center with the third team. • Receiver Jacob Cowing was back at practice, his first session since injuring his hamstring on the first day of training camp. Cowing also served as punt returner alongside rookie Junior Bergen. As far as receivers, Tuesday's standout was veteran Robbie Chosen, who caught two long passes from Mac Jones, including one for a would-be touchdown. George Kittle, meanwhile, caught two deep passes from Brock Purdy. • The highlight of the day: a touchdown catch by right guard Dominick Puni. It came during a red zone sequence in which Purdy's pass to Kyle Juszczyk was tipped in the air. Puni, who'd been barrelling down the line of scrimmage, collected the ball and ran into the left side of the end zone, sparking a loud celebration from his fellow offensive linemen. • Nick Bosa had a rest day, highlighting the team's shortage of defensive ends. With Bosa, Mykel Williams (knee), Sam Okuayinonu (groin), Robert Beal Jr. (groin) and Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle) out, Bryce Huff and Jonathan Garvin got the lion's share of snaps at the position. • Rookie nickelback Upton Stout (calf) worked out on a side field. The 49ers are hoping he can take part in Thursday's joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders. • Jake Moody was 7 of 7 on field goal attempts Tuesday, with the last two from 50 yards or longer. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Lakers mailbag: Is this LeBron's last season in LA? Could Giannis or Jokić be future targets?
Hello everyone and welcome to my first mailbag here at my new home, The Athletic. As the grandson of a letter carrier (fun fact) and as someone who attended every Los Angeles Lakers game a season ago, I'm uniquely qualified for this very assignment. I sent the signal out on social media for your questions, and I'm going to do my best to answer as many of them as possible, with neither rain, nor sleet, nor Eric Snow stopping me from delivering the answers. (Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.) What is the main change you believe the new majority owner of the Lakers will bring compared to the previous owner? —@afamosajems A few of you asked questions about something that feels like way too much of an afterthought considering the impact it could eventually have on the organization. A few things first. The general sense I've gotten from talking to my sources within the organization is that things are basically 'business as usual' currently. But no one who has paid any attention to the behemoth the Los Angeles Dodgers have become can realistically think that Mark Walter is going to just let the Lakers move forward powered solely by inertia. Advertisement One thing that fans should know — modernization efforts began prior to the sale with the Lakers further investing in things like analytics and medical staffing. But there was, to some extent, a budget. With deeper-pocketed ownership, it's reasonable to expect the Lakers will be able to take more risks in the ways they spend on non-salary cap matters. A common critique of the Lakers is that they get the big stuff right and the small stuff much less right. Resources, if deployed, should help the hit rights go up. It won't solve everything — plenty of wealthy teams still make mistakes with minimum contracts and second-round picks — but the extra cash should help once the sale closes. But the process for things like the hiring of new strength coach Jeremy Holsopple started before the team's sale became public. Will this be LeBron James' last year with the Lakers? Is the Lakers roster built to contend deep in the playoffs? — @mattyicefalcon Also, do you think LeBron will retire as a Laker? — @lakeshow4ever8 Yeah, OK so let's get to this. I write this with the explicit instruction to readers that I believe that very few people know what LeBron James is thinking when it comes to his future, and that at his age, figuring out how to get ready for the NBA season in front of him requires enough physical and mental energy to keep him from dwelling on questions about his career mortality. Here are the things we know: James has one year left on his contract with the Lakers for max-ish money (he took a slight discount last summer). He has a no-trade clause. He opted into his deal to be with the team. I think there are still questions that need to be answered about the ways he and Luka Dončić look as co-stars on a championship team, questions that are probably big enough to not want to tie yourself to any one significant decision for next summer. It's also, undoubtedly, a strange position to take one of the NBA's all-time leading scorers, a player still performing at an All-NBA level, and have him on an expiring deal. Advertisement All indications are that James will be in training camp at the end of September and will play his 23rd NBA season with the Lakers. But I really don't want to make any guesses, informed or not, about how James views his future, either as a Laker or as an NBA player. Again, all I know is that when faced with chances to play for teams other than the Lakers, James has chosen to stay in purple and gold each time. If you had to listen to one song every day for the rest of your life, what record would you pick? — @ECreates88 I love this because it's not my favorite song, but basically one I could never get sick of. The quick-look-through-my-playlist contenders: Neil Young 'Harvest Moon,' Tom Petty 'Wildflowers,' Talking Heads 'This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody),' Father John Misty 'I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All,' Curtis Mayfield 'Movin' On Up,' Spoon 'The Underdog,' A Tribe Called Quest 'Electric Relaxation,' Beastie Boys 'Shake Your Rump,' Modest Mouse 'Missed the Boat,' Wednesday 'Chosen to Deserve,' Parquet Courts 'Tenderness' and MJ Lenderman 'She's Leaving You.' But ultimately, if I had to listen to one song every day, I'd want it to be a song that made me as happy as possible, as quickly as possible. And I don't think any song makes me happier faster than 'American Girl' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. How realistic is a Matisse Thybulle/Robert Williams III deal for the Lakers by the deadline? And in the scenario that both Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokić wanted to come to the Lakers next summer, which player would LA rather go after? — @RyanLucas_LA Let's just tackle the first question here. I have a hard time believing a team that's so close to the first apron that it can't currently sign a free agent would gamble on not one, but two guys that have no track record of availability. As far as the second part goes, I think the organization would reconsider its stance on the viability of three max players. (If I had to pick, it'd be Jokić.) Advertisement Realistically, is it a long shot to consider Giannis or Jokić in 2027? Or do you think the Lakers have any considerable assets to possibly trade for Giannis? — @afamosajems Do I think either is realistic as a trade target? No, not really. The market would need to be way suppressed by a player saying they would simply walk to the Lakers in free agency so 28 other teams shouldn't even consider bidding, and still the Lakers' offer would be thin. Now, 2027 in free agency, should either Giannis or Jokić make it there, could be interesting, especially if Dončić has the kind of season the Lakers expect out of him. What do you think is the biggest roster hole going into the season? I kind of like the roster makeup right now with the exception of backup big man/rim protector. — @ Do you think this is the roster going into training camp? — @LakeShowJoe_ Dan, do you think there's any chance LAL will make a minor trade with Maxi Kleber's or Gabe Vincent's expiring contracts before the start of the season? And if that happens and creates flexibility, could you see them adding Kevin Love as a veteran voice alongside LeBron in the locker room? — @Los_LakersBR I don't think another move is coming for the Lakers before the season starts, and really, it's just a simple cost-benefit analysis of making one. The Lakers have two tradable draft picks as of now, one first, one second and some low-value swaps because, well, any team with Dončić on it has a pretty high floor. To create a roster spot to sign a remaining free agent, you're spending at least one second and losing a veteran who you believe to some degree can help (or who can make as big of a difference compared to whatever player is still uncommitted here in August). As far as trades go, while talks could pick back up as training camp gets closer, I believe it's way more likely that the Lakers would rather look at the roster that they've built, assess the strengths and weaknesses and try to improve during the season than use any of their limited draft arsenal to get a deal done now. Are you hearing anything about the expected rotation role of Adou Thiero? Was he drafted to be developed or to play right away, as the roster needs athleticism? With Dalton Knecht, did his summer-league performance affect the team's expectations and role for this year? —@prettytile There were definitely some eyebrows raised around the NBA when Thiero missed summer league with a knee issue, but I can finally offer a little optimism (we're 1,000 or so words in so I probably should). I've been told Thiero has been working out in the Lakers' facility and is expected to be participating once training camp opens at the end of September. As far as his role? It's gonna be crowded. But it's sort of a universal truth in the NBA. If young players want to get on the court, you do it by making an impact on the defensive end. And Thiero has the tools to make an impact on the defensive end. I won't go too in-depth on Knecht, other than to say that I think NBA evaluators haven't put much stock into his summer-league performance. Who is your favorite Laker of all time? — @theJayAquino Fun question! Never had one. I didn't grow up in Los Angeles, but my dad once took me to a sporting goods store in Chicago for a James Worthy New Balance signing. One of the first names in the NBA I remember knowing is Sedale Threatt. But let's go with Jason Kapono, who once had my favorite NBA quote about his fading draft stock: 'I should have left UCLA after my freshman year, moved to Yugoslavia and changed my name to Jason Kaponovich. I'd have been a first-round pick.' What is going to happen to Rui Hachimura after his current contract? — @methmatthewman Another great question and another very underrated subplot of this Lakers season. Hachimura, to me, represents a lot about what the Lakers have done right in terms of ID'ing an undervalued player and molding him into a useful piece while also showcasing some of their weaknesses. (Were they really bidding against anyone when Hachimura was a restricted free agent in 2023?) And he does a lot of the stuff that should shine alongside Dončić. Another good season and you could argue that he should be with the Lakers for another multi-year stint, even if it eats into some of their future flexibility. But if the defensive gains weren't real and the shooting suffers (it's been two full seasons of being really good), keeping the books clean becomes the better option. Fascinating season incoming following a fascinating offseason. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Why Kenneth Walker III could be the biggest beneficiary of the Seahawks' new offense
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have changed a lot on offense in the past several months, and if all goes according to plan, Ken Walker III stands to be the biggest beneficiary. Walker is Seattle's most explosive offensive player. He's capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. The fourth-year running back has four plays of at least 50 yards since joining the team as a second-round pick in 2022. Not many other guys on the team have proven to be that dangerous. Zach Charbonnet had a 51-yard touchdown run last year, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a couple of 46-yard receptions, but they can't necessarily turn on the jets the same way Walker can. Advertisement Walker's explosiveness pops off the screen when he's making jump cuts and accelerating to the second level of the defense. His speed is next level: He has maxed out at over 20 mph on 11 plays in his career, which is far more than any current Seahawk — the next closest is Marquez Valdes-Scantling with two — and top 10 among skill players since 2022 (all stats provided by TruMedia unless stated otherwise). Walker has a different gear than most guys in the league. Seahawks players and coaches have been saying for months that the run game will be their bread and butter. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's predecessors said the same thing. Walker, who's on his third coordinator in four years, said he believes Kubiak is more of a man of his word because of how often the Seahawks have been practicing run plays compared to previous seasons. 'I feel like it's going to be a physical offense, and we know what we want our identity to be,' Walker said. 'I like the aspect of running the ball, but also getting out of the backfield and catching the ball. It's great.' If Kubiak's unit can walk the walk to back up the talk from this summer, Walker should have a big year in this scheme, which is built around a perimeter attack but also has changeups to keep the defense honest. Walker's ability to make quick decisions, explode upfield and punish defensive backs who take poor angles should be on full display in this system. 'We've got all types of schemes that we can do, but I feel like I'm just an explosive back, and we can make plays,' Walker said. Walker came on strong as a rookie when given the opportunity to be the lead back. He had a 69-yard rushing touchdown against the New Orleans Saints right after Rashaad Penny went down with a leg fracture. On that play, Walker quickly found a cutback lane and was off to the races, untouched. Two weeks later, Walker found the edge on a toss play and ran 74 yards to the house against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. KENNETH. WALKER. TO. THE. HOUSE. 🏠 📺: #SEAvsLAC on FOX📱: Stream on NFL+ — NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2022 Over the past two seasons, Walker has run behind bad offensive lines and played for coordinators committed to pass-centric offenses. It's hard for any running back to thrive under those circumstances. Sure, Walker can turn nothing into something as well as anyone, but Seattle can't build an offensive identity around his improvisational skills. Walker and all the other running backs must be able to trust that their blockers will create creases and allow them to generate explosive plays. Advertisement Seattle's offensive lines haven't been reliable in that way. There are 44 NFL running backs with at least 200 carries over the past two seasons. Walker's carries have gone for zero or negative yards at the fifth-highest rate (21.5 percent). Charbonnet has the eighth-highest rate (20.6). Charbonnet ranks 32nd in yards before contact per carry in that span, and Walker ranks 39th. Simply having a league-average run blocking unit would do wonders for Seattle's running backs this season. Walker has been dealing with foot soreness and appears to be on a maintenance schedule that sprinkles in days off. He was a full participant in Tuesday's padded practice, but it's unclear if he'll suit up with the rest of the starters against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night. 'We have a plan for Ken, and we're sticking to the plan,' coach Mike Macdonald said of Walker being in and out of the lineup during camp. Still, there were encouraging signs from the first-team offense in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. The starters up front were, from left to right: Josh Jones, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abe Lucas. That unit played two drives and paved the way for George Holani to rush for 61 yards and a touchdown on seven attempts. It's not hard to envision what Walker would be able to do if the blocking were that effective with him on the field. Rookie fullback Robbie Outzs impacted the run game against the Raiders, and his presence should also help Walker. A fair critique of Walker's game to this point is his inconsistent vision, as he does not always hit runs as designed. With Ouzts leading the way, Walker's job should be even easier. He said playing with a fullback is like having an 'extra set of eyes' in the run game. The scheme is running-back-friendly in that way. Advertisement 'If I don't see it, and if he can see it, I can just follow him, and he just takes me,' Walker said. 'Even if we don't hit the right hole, if we hit it 100 percent, it still can make the play.' It's difficult to project how running back carries will be split. The last two offensive coordinators have treated Walker like the lead guy and Charbonnet as the backup on early downs. Charbonnet is the better pass protector, so he has gotten most of the snaps in obvious passing situations and two-minute drills. The setup should be similar this season, given how explosive Walker has looked in practice. But it's worth noting that when Kubiak was asked during a KIRO-AM radio interview to list the qualities that make up an elite running back in today's game, he spoke highly of Charbonnet. 'No. 1 is intelligence,' Kubiak said. 'No. 2 is availability, guys that are available the whole game. The best backs I've been around are super smart. Guys that you give them difficult game plans, and they can go out and make adjustments. Our top two guys are doing really good things, but Charbonnet, his mental approach to the game is extremely impressive. He does not flinch. If he ever has a question, you know you didn't coach it good enough, because he's that on it.' The availability piece will be key for Walker, who was limited to just 11 games last season due to oblique, ankle and calf injuries (he was inactive only four times in his first two years). Kyle Shanahan's 49ers are often used as a point of reference when describing Seattle's new scheme. Another good comparison, especially when assessing Walker's home run potential, is what the scheme has done for speedsters like De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert in Miami. The Dolphins' usage of fullback Alec Ingold in that perimeter-based run game illustrates what this offense can do for Walker, health permitting. 'I know (Walker) hasn't been to every practice, but the ones he's been able to attend, you see the flashes of his talent,' Kubiak said Tuesday. 'He was out there today making plays in the pass game and the run game. I see him continuing to get better with reps.' Advertisement Even if Walker doesn't play Friday night, Seattle's second preseason game is another good test for the first-team offense (I don't expect left tackle Charles Cross or center Olu Oluwatimi to play). A second consecutive outing running the ball effectively would offer another data point to suggest that this year will be different. And if so, that's great news for Walker, who's entering the final year of his rookie deal. 'I just want to be positive and keep my mind on football and not a contract and all that,' Walker said. 'I just want to make a positive impact on my team and go out there and play to the best of my ability. That's what I've been wanting to do from my rookie year until now. I'm going to just keep that same mindset and not worry about (my) contract and everything.' As for playing in a run-first offense in a contract year, Walker said: 'There's more opportunities for me to show what I can do on the field.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
