Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder.

Kevin Durant has what could be the highest ceiling of any NBA player right now.  With his length and athleticism, Durant has proven to be a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court.  At 6 foot 9, 230 pounds, and only 21 years of age, Durant continues to get better each year.  In just his third year in the NBA, Durant is the second best small forward in the Western Conference and is arguable the third or fourth best small forward in the league period.  I expect him to be an All-Star this year.

Durant is a very versatile ball player.  He shoots the ball well (although he is struggling with his three point shot this season.  He’s only making 22% or his threes this season compared to 42% last season.), he can attack the basket, he handles the ball extremely well for his size, he can pass, he can rebound, he can hit free throws, and his defense is getting better.  With his size and skill set, he should be a potential triple-double threat each night, but he needs to get stronger.  He needs to develop that killer instinct that Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade possess.  Durant also needs to improve his defense.

Kevin Durant showing the hops.

Not only has Durant improved skill wise, he has also improved as a leader.  I cannot remember the article or who wrote it, but someone suggested that Durant makes his team worse by him hindering the development of his teammates.  Durant didn’t take this criticism well at all.  He responded and pointed out that he is the best player on the team and he is the team leader (not in those words).

I agree with Durant.  He is the best player on the team.  I don’t know what type of leader Durant is, but he does lead.  I don’t know if he is a vocal leader or not, but I know that he leads by example.  He brings it every night.  He gives his team a chance to win and he continues to get better.  He works hard on his game which is evident by is yearly improvements.  Durant is averaging 28.1 points (best of his career), 2.4 assists, and 7.4 rebounds (best of his career) a game and he is averaging 40.7 minutes a game (highest minute per game average of his career).  His team is only 5-5 right now, but they will improve.

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