Dictionary.com defines “underrate” simply as “to rate or evaluate too low; underestimate.” But an edit should be made. Offset to the side, there should be a picture of Oklahoma City Thunder swingman, Kevin Durant. As baffling as it is, 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game is underrated. The 21-year-old from Washington D.C. finds himself with the unfortunate task of vying for league face time with two puppets and Chuck Barkley’s T-Mobile co-star.
What he may lack in name recognition to those unfamiliar with the NBA, his damn near flawless game leads many to come to the decision that he is one of the best players on the face of the Earth. His jumpshot is silky smooth. He can create his own shot. His image is error-free. And according to SportsCenter, he’s becoming more and more potent as the season progresses. From 25 points per game in October, to slightly over 30 in the first month of 2010, KD35 is a legitimate MVP candidate. After a less-than-desirable 2008-2009 season, the Thunder are executing a 180° and rank as one of the more entertaining teams to watch this season. Durant is the type of player you build a franchise around and with former UCLA standout Russell Westbrook and Georgetown star Jeff Green, Oklahoma City could have a contender in the making.
But it all boils down to the former second overall draft pick from Texas who has the potential to be a top five player (if not top three) for the next decade. As he continues to learn the professional game more with each dribble, the rest of the league will fall further and further behind the learning curve. The near and distant future also bodes well for the former Longhorn. His hopeful selection as an All-Star Game starter next month will afford him the opportunity to gain the attention from the casual fan. When the entire planet focuses on London in 2012, expect to see K.D. as one of the team’s marquee figures.
In short, this kid is the future. Will there be a Maurice Polodoff Trophy in it perhaps? Maybe. Let’s just hope the world doesn’t suffer another Attention Deficit from a D.C. resident.
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I been on the KD bandwagon like crazy since he was @ UT. I finally got a chance to see him in person for the first time a few weeks ago when OKC played against my Bulls here in Chicago. Fortunately for me it was half-priced ticket night, so we got plush seats courtside 5th row behind the Bulls bench for $60. Durant put up a very efficient 25 pts and was ridiculous all night, and Westbrook demonstrated why he’s a year or two away from being an all-star as well. Between that and heckling Vinny Del Sucko all night, it was money well spent in spite of the L Chicago took.
I told anyone that’d listen that KD would be a top-10 player in this league by his 3rd season, 2 PTS for me for that one lol. Seriously though, if hypothetically I was a GM and I was told I could build my team around any one player, I think it’d have to be Lebron, with KD a close second. Thinking long-term, he has another 10-12 years at least of elite basketball left
in him, barring injury. It’s sick really to think how dope he is gonna be in a few years.
I’ve liked kid since his brief time @ UT. He was smooth as hell for his height, had a jumper and could handle the rock. I think given one more season (maybe 2), cont. progress and a little more help, he’ll get his proper recognition.
^agreed w/ everything rosado said.
durant is the truth on that squad. but please don’t sleep on westbrook and green…them cats are trying to become the pippen to durant’s jordan.
@rosado – how did harden look? i think the thunder have a lot of young talent, but a lot of them are interchangeable. westbrook plays the 1, but can run at the 2. harden plays at the 2, but can run at the 3. durant plays at the 3, but can play at the 2. and green plays at the 4, but can play at the 3.
i fear that all that interchangeability could make westbrook, harden or green trade bait one day. i sure hope not.
^ out of the 3 I think Green will be used as trade bait for the rebounder/low post scorer that the thunder will need to become an elite squad. Green does a decent job at the 3 but his best position is the 3 and Durant got that on LOCK.
I meant does a decent job at the 4
Saw him in DC … he had about 30 by early third Q … and only 35 for the game. He doesn’t press the game. If he was a ball hog or even a bit more aggressive he could be averaging mid thirty. Definitely the future of the league barring injury … Portland took another Jordanesque L with Old Man.
He is an All-Star this year because he is putting up numbers and his team is winning. Anyone without NBA League pass should dead themselves. Only games I truly want to see on a weekly basis are OK City, Memphis, and LAL.
His team is 2-4 years away from making noise in the playoffs though. The NBA Playoff’s is a process….can’t just jump in them waters and steal something.
I didn’t think he had the physical strength to be a consistent factor. I was wrong. He does and apparently the work ethic too. Right now I either start my team with LeBron, Kobe or him, then there’s a wide gap then Wade and Melo. Once he adds strength and some muscle, he’ll dominate defensively, too. THen he’ll be a serious MVP candidate.
He needs to bulk up… he’s nice but after a bit folks will start to beat on him if he continues to do work…
@ Ghostdini: Harden was torching, he hit like 3 from 3pt range and finished with about 14. He reminded me a lot of Mitch Richmond, down the road he has the potential to be special.
@ Bigga: green is a legit 6’9, I think he can handle the 4. All the thunder need is a bruiser in the post and they’ll be set, I think they got enough young periphery guys with potential (thabo, maynor, ibaka, plus all those picks they stacked) where they can possibly make a trade for a big with a team trying to shed salary and land something of quality without touching Westbrook/durant/green/harden.
If they can get a brusier without giving up nucleus would be great. My saying Green isn’t the answer at the 4 doesn’t have to do with his height. Watching him since he was in Georgetown, even though he played the 4 their as well he was more of a Derek Mckey type. He can do it all play multiple positions but he is more aggressive on the offensive end than Derek McKey was. i hope they can keep Green with the team they are building. Kendrick Perkins would fit perfect on the Thunder.
Durant is one of my favorite players in the league. He’s a unique specimen and quite the scorer. I just hope he doesn’t get Penny Hardaway/Grant Hill syndrome b/c of his slight frame. In the meantime I’m still scratching my head over how Greg Oden aka Sam Bowie Jr. got drafted over him.
Jeff Green ain’t bad either as he’s an undersized 4 playing against taller and/or stronger PFs EVERY NIGHT. Dude’s been a good second option. Also James Harden’s been making the most of his minutes as a rookie off the bench. OKC’s been a fun team to watch so far.
Meh, he aint do shit for seattle when he was here.
(yes, im still mad. I miss my Sonics)
Agree with Warfare Chris.
u know that dude that is so overwhelmingly considered underrated until he becomes overrated? Think Elton Brand in ’03, or Josh Howard in ’05. Or even Ben Wallace in ’04. That’s what Kevin Durant is in danger of becoming.
^ none of those 3 dudes were ever nearly as good in their primes
as KD is now.
My roommate’s high school coach was friends with the coach of Montrose Christian, KD’s high school team. They played one time, of course Montrose shat on em and KD had several dunks, including one on youtube, and was just all over nasty. But he said the best part was the pre game, where instead of Montrose warming up, ppl were calling out dunks from the stands for KD to do and then he would do it…..sickkk
He ain’t that underrated though Mr. Tinsley. He’s in the top 15 in terms of NBA jersey sales.
Durant and underrated don’t belong in the same sentence. The Thunder are shocking the league (except Bill Simmons), but Kevin’s buzz has been huge since college.
Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace are underrated.
@ Welfare it was Grant trying to play thru a severe ankle sprain in the playoffs not his frame that derailed his career. He was showing toughness in a contract year when he should’ve MJ’ed himself and let discretion be the better part of valor.