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Before going down with an Achilles injury, Kevin Durant was considered by many as the best basketball player in the world. While LeBron James is undoubtedly the most accomplished NBA player of this generation, Durant was all set to dethrone the LA Lakers superstar and take the No. 1 spot in the league. But as we head towards an exciting 2020-21 NBA season, let's take a look at 5 reasons why Kevin Durant shouldn't be compared to King James.
5 reasons why Kevin Durant should never be compared with LeBron James
Kevin Durant is 3 years younger than LeBron James and has spent 5 fewer years in the league. While it's not fair to judge the two while they are still active in the league, there are plenty of aspects on which we can debate.
#1. Leadership abilities
LeBron James has been the leader of every team he's been a part of. Ever since his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the mid-2000s, LeBron led his team from the front and was the face of the franchise since a young age.
Even today, James is the leader of the LA Lakers roster and has helped develop great chemistry between his teammates both on and off the court.
But even after being a part of 3 different teams, Kevin Durant's leadership is still a question mark. Though he was a crucial part of the OKC Thunder roster, Russell Westbrook was the fan favorite and the leader of the team. Durant later joined a Golden State Warriors team which was led by Steph Curry.
#2. Consistency and longevity
At the age of 35, LeBron James won the 2020 Finals MVP and finished the season with 25.3 points, 10.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds. He takes meticulous care of his body and strives to stay fit even in the offseason. Barring a groin injury that kept him out for a few weeks last season, LeBron has hardly missed games throughout his career.
While Kevin Durant has stayed consistent for the most part of his career, his fitness is by no means comparable to that of LeBron James. Even before the unfortunate Achilles injury, the 32-year-old had to sit out on numerous occasions. During the 2014-15 season, Durant played just 27 games in the regular season and missed out on the rest because of foot, ankle, and toe injuries.
Also read: LA Lakers' greatest starting 5 of the 21st century
#3. Handling the pressure
It can be argued that no player in history has had to endure the amount of pressure LeBron James has had to shoulder. People had tremendous expectations from him even before he was drafted into the league, and he continues to be the most scrutinized player in this social-media age.
LeBron James has been exemplary in handling pressure both on and off the court, and has never let the critics impact his performance.
On the other hand, Kevin Durant is often criticized for being too sensitive and 'soft'. He often takes criticism too seriously and has slapped back at his detractors on Twitter. He even admitted to owning multiple burner accounts on Twitter in order to respond to fans.
#4. Fleeing a sinking ship
The biggest black mark in Kevin Durant's career so far has been his decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016. In the previous season, the Warriors had won a record 73 regular season-games and had defeated the OKC Thunder in 7 games in the Conference Finals.
Kevin Durant took the easy way out in the 2016 free agency, and joined a team that was already stacked with superstars like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Though Kevin Durant went on to win 2 NBA championships with the team, there'll always be an asterisk next to it because of how good the Warriors were even without him.
While a similar argument can be made about LeBron James joining the Miami Heat in 2010, he redeemed himself by going back to Cleveland in 2014 and helping them get to their first NBA championship in 2016.
#5. Versatility
Though Kevin Durant is one of the most skilled players in the league, his versatility is mostly limited to scoring baskets. He is not known for his playmaking abilities and doesn't possess as many intangibles as LeBron James.
Magic Johnson recently called LeBron James the best 'all-around' player in NBA history. Apart from being an efficient, consistent scorer, LeBron is an elite playmaker and elevates his teammates to the next level whenever he's on the court.
He can also rebound the ball on both ends of the court and can defend multiple positions. In his 17-year career, LeBron James has played as a point guard, a wing, a power forward, and even as a center at times.
Also read: NBA Trade Options: 3 most valuable assets for the Detroit Pistons going into the 2020-21 season
