Stephen A's Take: Kevin Durant is an All-time NBA Great!

Summary

Summary of "Stephen A's Take: Kevin Durant is an All-time NBA Great!"

Released on February 14, 2025, on The Stephen A. Smith Show by Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts.

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Introduction

In the February 14, 2025 episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the illustrious career of NBA superstar Kevin Durant. Amidst debates surrounding Durant's leadership and team success, Smith presents a compelling argument positioning Durant among the all-time greats in basketball history.

Kevin Durant's Scoring Prowess

Stephen A. Smith opens his discussion by highlighting Durant's monumental achievement of joining the exclusive 30,000-point club, becoming only the eighth player in NBA history to reach this milestone. Smith emphasizes Durant's exceptional scoring ability:

"Kevin Durant is one of the top 10 players in the history of basketball. I challenge anybody to find me a dude that's 6ft 11, 7ft tall that could do the things he can do with a basketball on the perimeter, beyond the arc, mid-range game." [01:06]

Durant's versatility as a scorer is underscored by his ability to excel in various aspects of the game, making him a unique and formidable offensive threat.

Comparison with NBA Legends

Smith meticulously compares Durant to other basketball legends, asserting Durant's elite status:

"He's a greater scorer than LeBron James, ladies and gentlemen. He's a greater scorer than Kobe Bryant." [03:15]

He acknowledges Kobe Bryant's prowess but distinguishes Durant by his physical attributes and shooting capabilities:

"Kobe wasn't 6ft 11 with a 7’6” wingspan. That was KD, Trey. That was Kevin Durant." [04:00]

Smith candidly places Michael Jordan as the only scorer he regards above Durant, further solidifying Durant's position among the top three greatest scorers in basketball history.

Performance Post-Achilles Injury

Addressing Durant's resilience, Smith discusses Durant's performance following his Achilles injury:

"After 12 years in the NBA, he had torn his Achilles. And since that time, he's actually shot better and more efficiently than he was doing before his injury. 53% from the field, 41% from three-point range." [02:45]

Smith underscores Durant's remarkable ability to not only recover but enhance his shooting efficiency post-injury, a testament to his dedication and skill.

Leadership and Intangibles

While praising Durant's on-court achievements, Smith does not shy away from addressing criticisms regarding Durant's leadership and team dynamics:

"I know it's shocking because he got pissed at me and he called me a clown because I questioned his leadership and all of this other stuff." [04:50]

Despite these criticisms, Smith maintains his respect for Durant as an individual:

"But he's a pretty damn good dude. He just gets emotional sometimes and he lashes out. But he's a good brother. He's never cheated the game, he steps on the court. He performs at a high level all the time." [05:10]

Smith acknowledges that while Durant's leadership qualities may be debated, his personal integrity and consistent performance remain unquestionable.

Greatness Unaffected by Team Outcomes

Smith asserts that Durant's greatness transcends his team's recent struggles in the playoffs:

"He could be mad all he wants to. The man got swept two of the last three years and would have lost in the first round a third straight year if Kawhi London hadn't gotten hurt. But nothing takes away from his greatness as a basketball player." [03:50]

He emphasizes that team outcomes, while important, do not diminish Durant's individual excellence and contributions to the game.

Future Prospects and Legacy

Concluding his analysis, Smith speculates on Durant's future achievements and potential legacy:

"I don't think he'll make it to 40 because he'll have to average about 2,000 points a season for the next five years. And you know, he's over 35, so I don't know he's gonna play till he's 40, 42 or whatever, but hell, I can't put nothing past him because he's that dude." [04:45]

Smith remains optimistic about Durant's ability to continue performing at a high level, even as his career progresses into its later stages.

Final Affirmation

Smith wraps up his segment by unequivocally affirming Durant's status:

"This dude's one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the top three greatest scorers in the history of basketball. Look at the numbers. They speak for themselves, ladies and gentlemen." [05:20]

He extends his congratulations to Durant for his 30,000-point milestone and firmly cements Durant's legacy as an NBA legend.

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Conclusion

In this episode, Stephen A. Smith delivers a thorough and passionate defense of Kevin Durant's standing in NBA history. Balancing statistical analysis with personal insights, Smith not only celebrates Durant's scoring achievements but also navigates the complexities surrounding his leadership and team performance. The episode serves as a testament to Durant's enduring impact on basketball and solidifies his place among the sport's all-time greats.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "Kevin Durant is one of the top 10 players in the history of basketball." [01:06]
• "He's a greater scorer than LeBron James, ladies and gentlemen." [03:15]
• "After 12 years in the NBA, he had torn his Achilles. And since that time, he's actually shot better and more efficiently than he was doing before his injury." [02:45]
• "I know it's shocking because he got pissed at me and he called me a clown because I questioned his leadership." [04:50]
• "This dude's one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the top three greatest scorers in the history of basketball." [05:20]

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This summary encapsulates the key points and discussions from Stephen A. Smith's segment on Kevin Durant, providing an insightful overview for those who have not listened to the episode.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Now it's time to get to the NBA where history was made in Phoenix last night as Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points. It happened on two free throws last night in the third quarter as the Suns lost to the Memphis Grizzlies. 119 112. Durant joins an elite scoring group that includes LeBron James, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Carl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk nowitzki and the one and only Wilt Chamberlain. By the way, LeBron is the only player in league history to score more than 40,000 points. As for Durant, the four time NBA scoring champion remains one of the league's best shot makers, currently averaging just over 27 points per game in his 17th season. I've said this early on television. I'm going to say it again. Kevin Durant is one of the top 10 players in the history of basketball. I challenge anybody to find me a dude that's 6ft 11, 7ft tall that could do the things he can do with a basketball on the perimeter, beyond the arc, mid range game. It doesn't matter. He's a bonafide professional. Pure scorer. It's who he is. And strictly when it speaks to scoring as opposed to overall play, I can make an argument that Kevin Durant is one of the top three scorers in the history of basketball. Do y'all know that after 12 years in the NBA, he had torn his Achilles. And since that time, he's actually shot better and more efficiently than he was doing before his injury. 53 from the field, 41 from three point range. That's what he's done in the last four plus years since he's been back from that Achilles tier. He's been averaging 27.6 points since he turned 30. No NBA player in history has done that. This is who Kevin Durant is. Now, I know it's shocking because he got pissed at me and he called me a clown because I questioned his leadership and all of this other stuff. He could be mad all he wants to. The man got swept two of the last three years and would have lost in the first round a third straight year if Kawhi London hadn't gotten hurt. But nothing takes away from his greatness as a basketball player. Nothing's going to stop me from acknowledging it. And I happen to believe no matter what he said about me, he's a pretty damn good dude. He just gets emotional sometimes and he lashes out. But he's a good brother. He's never cheated the game, he steps on the court. He performs at a high level all the time. Now, are there some questions about the intangibles? Yes. Does he have the intangibles to lead, meaning to maximize the potential around him, to make sure guys are doing what they supposed to do? That remains a question mark. No doubt about it. But having said that, there's still no question his greatness. This dude's one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the top three greatest scorers in the history of basketball. Look at the numbers. They speak for themselves, ladies and gentlemen. He's a greater scorer than LeBron James, ladies and gentlemen. He's a greater scorer than Kobe Bryant. And you know, that's damn near sacrilegious to say, but Kobe wasn't 6ft 11 with a 76 wingspan. That was KD, Trey. That was Kevin Durant. The only person that I would say wasn't a better scorer then was Michael Jordan. But KD is that dude. Remember, he's. He missed time when he was in Oklahoma City with the foot injury. He definitely missed time when he tore the Achilles. K.D. something special, y'all. And I'm not going to deny him his props under any circumstances. Congrats to him joining the 30, 000 club. I don't think he'll make it to 40 because he'll have to average about 2, 000 points a season for the next five years. And you know, he's, he's over 35, so I don't know he gonna play till he's 40, 42 or whatever, but hell, I can't put nothing past him because he's that dude. No doubt about it. Congratulations and props to the one and only KE Foreign.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up everyone? Julius Rippinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and JSP on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.