Kevin Durant is not yet a superstar

[21_Blessings]

What are you talking about? Did Kobe average 30 points per game when he was 21 years old? Was Kobe leading the Lakers in his third season or was it Shaq?

What the are you talking about? Are you really this ing dumb?

Was Durant All NBA 1st team defense or winning les at 21? Do you think Durant would be dropping 30 a night with PRIME Shaq on the Thunder? You do realize Kobe was without a doubt the number 1 option during crunch time, over prime Shaq, during the Lakers 99/00 le run at only 21.

Not sure what all this bull about 'leading' is. Harper, Fisher, Shaw were all bigger leaders than Shaq ever was. Shaq has always been a astic leader that wore out of welcome on just about every team he has played for.

[HarlemHeat37]

So you are saying you believe Kobe at 21 is as good as Durant now?..

LOL @ your avatar btw..Kobe looks so angry.." , Bynum's still on the team?!"..

[21_Blessings]

So you are saying you believe Kobe at 21 is as good as Durant now?..

Kobe was better at 21. It's not close either.

[namlook]

Kobe was better at 21. It's not close either.

Forgive these people 21_Blessings, they don't know any better. They were probably in pre-school when Kobe was 21.

[21_Blessings]

Durant is a prolific scorer but he's not Kobe

[milkshakeballa]

So you are saying you believe Kobe at 21 is as good as Durant now?..

LOL @ your avatar btw..Kobe looks so angry.." , Bynum's still on the team?!"..

Kobe WITHOUT a doubt was a all around better play than Durant is now...not close.

Durant a better scorer...

Player??? Isn't even close.

[RsxPiimp]

Durant is a better scorer than Kobe when he was 21, but Kobe's game was much more polished than KD. People forget that Kobe was the facilitator, often times closer and sometimes their best defender when he was 21. Did'nt he score 45 points against the Spurs in the WCF?

[RsxPiimp]

KD is a top 5 player in the regular season, no denying that, but the playoffs is a different atmosphere. Its a good training ground for him. No one should expect this kid to dominate against a championship team.

[Ghazi]

nice effort for your boy glassnum tonight 21. 6 points and 33% shooting against ing Kristic/Collison/Ibaka

[MateoNeygro]

Like everyone has said Kobe is the better all around player but KD is the better scorer. IMO.

[cobbler]

Durant is around a top 5 player in the NBA..he's there with Howard, Wade, Kobe and maybe Dirk..they're all a level behind King James..so, yes, he's a superstar..I don't think he'll ever reach Lebron, but I think he can become a level above everybody else(except Howard, since he can move up with some improvements as well) once he develops a clutch reputation and works on his playmaking ability..he should also work on his Proactiv game, but I'll pass on that right now..

There's a very good argument that he's the best player in the series..

There's a difference between having Gasol/Bynum/Odom/Artest as your supporting cast and being guarded by Artest..as opposed to being guarded by Jeff Green for pretty much the entire 4th and relying on Jeff Green to be 1 of 2 other major scoring contributors on the team..

Oh yeah...cause Bynum, Odom, and Artest came up so big offensively compared to Green. Not to mention Fish. Oh, I see no mention of Westbrook or Krstic... who both shot better that the Laker players not named Gasol. I guess I can assume you meant "one" of them with your 1 of 2 comment.

Kobe and Durant had very similar games if you disregard Durants 8 TO's. Gasol played well and thats about it for the Lakers. Brown had some decent mins. Krstic and Westbrook played well for the Thunder. Series is two games old so well see who's the better player when its all said and done. At this stage in the series IMO Pau has been the best player followed closly by Westbrook. Kobe and Durant are outside looking in. I couls care less though about which individual player is the best. The W's for the team is all that matters.

[Obstructed_View]

I do not see any clutchness from this kid, and thus I cannot in good conscience call him a superstar yet because clutchness is a key quality that separates the superstars from the all-stars.

Since your perception of "superstar" and "clutch" are both in question, that's an endorsement if I ever read one.

[ChrisRichards]

Kobe was lucky to have the leagues best player, a HOF coach and some savy veterans on his side when he was 21, GTFO.


Durant is playing with an inexperienced coach who cant draw up a play, some really, really young guns and yet they are pushing the Lakers into a slugfest.


Durant at 21 is better than Kobe at 21 talent wise.

[Ghazi]

Durant is around a top 5 player in the NBA..he's there with Howard, Wade, Kobe and maybe Dirk..they're all a level behind King James..so, yes, he's a superstar..I don't think he'll ever reach Lebron, but I think he can become a level above everybody else(except Howard, since he can move up with some improvements as well) once he develops a clutch reputation and works on his playmaking ability..he should also work on his Proactiv game, but I'll pass on that right now..

There's a very good argument that he's the best player in the series..

There's a difference between having Gasol/Bynum/Odom/Artest as your supporting cast and being guarded by Artest..as opposed to being guarded by Jeff Green for pretty much the entire 4th and relying on Jeff Green to be 1 of 2 other major scoring contributors on the team..

[Findog]

I do not see any clutchness from this kid, and thus I cannot in good conscience call him a superstar yet because clutchness is a key quality that separates the superstars from the all-stars.

I liken him to Kobe early in his career, throwing up airballs in Utah. It's only a matter of time before Durant develops these killer closing skills, but he doesn't have them yet and it's a fallacy to rightfully call him a superstar at this point in his career.

Shut up, Jeff.

[picc84]

Durant is a better scorer now than Kobe, and also than Kobe at 21 in the first le run.

Kobe at 21 was a better all-around player however. I actually think Durant has been the league's most overrated player this season, outside of those who still call Kobe the best. He's basically what Melo used to be before he got better.

[JoshO501]

whats really scary is that he's only 21

[mogrovejo]

If Kobe and Durant switched positions, it'd be Lakers in 4 blowouts.

[mogrovejo]

Durant is a better scorer now than Kobe, and also than Kobe at 21 in the first le run.

Kobe at 21 was a better all-around player however. I actually think Durant has been the league's most overrated player this season, outside of those who still call Kobe the best. He's basically what Melo used to be before he got better.

Durant is already a better defender than Melo will ever be it seems + one of the best rebounders at his position in the entire league.

[oh crap]

gee, thanks for your unbias opinion.

[N4th4n]

A 21 year old Kobe would torch the out of a 30 year old Artest. Durant will never reach Kobe's status. No part of his game will be as good as Kobe's. You are desperate. And Duncan.

He is already a better three point shooter, rebounder and shot blocker.

[oh crap]

lol... luva's just trolling. nothing to see here.

[crc21209]

Unclutch would have been for him to lay down in the 4th, resulting in an easy pull-away Laker win, but as it stands, he was matching Kobe basket for basket down the stretch until that unfortunate basket interference play by one of his Thunder teammates.

So he didn't hit the final shot, so what, Kobe missed a critical FT. Does that mean Kobe's not clutch?
Weak grasping on your part.

Bingo...

[Killakobe81]

Kobe was lucky to have the leagues best player, a HOF coach and some savy veterans on his side when he was 21, GTFO.


Durant is playing with an inexperienced coach who cant draw up a play, some really, really young guns and yet they are pushing the Lakers into a slugfest.


Durant at 21 is better than Kobe at 21 talent wise.

LOL that you would write this shows your stupidity (well maybe just blind hate) like I said before ...

Post better or post...less.

durant is a more natural scorer no doubt about that. but is it harder to help lead a team with a mix of veterans to a le? (like what Kobe, duncan and Wade did in '06?) Or to carry a team built around you to score and fall short?

I am not even saying that Durant isnt a better scorer than Kobe ...just saying ... doing it for a winner while having to share the ball (and in many cases run the offense) is MORE impressive

Duncan Wade and Kobe had to do that ...

For the record disagree with OP (and Phil) Durant IS A SUPERSAR

[MiamiHeat]

What planet do laker fans come from? Seriously, you guys are ing stupid.

"Kobe would destroy him"



http://www.basketball-reference.com/...anke01&y2=2010