Top 5 moments from Kevin Durant’s NBA career

#3 Kevin Durant comes up with the dagger trey in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals

Kevin Durant and LeBron James during the 2017 NBA Finals - Game Three

In terms of pure numbers, Kevin Durant’s 31 points in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals versus the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t really measure up to his otherwise high standards. But this performance needs to be seen in the context of those Finals. The Golden State Warriors were up 2-0 in that series, playing their first away game in Cleveland.

With 2:20 left to play in the game, the Warriors found themselves trailing 107-113. After Steph Curry made a layup, Durant made a 13-foot jumper to cut the game to a one-point deficit. Then, with Kyle Korver missing a long-range attempt, Durant gathered the rebound and jogged down the court with about forty-five seconds left to play. With LeBron James in front of him, Durant pulled up for a casual-looking three, which went in and gave Golden State a lead they never lost. Durant made a couple of free throws to follow and the Warriors eventually nicked the game 118-113.

This was the closest of the five-game 2017 Finals. Cleveland won Game 4 only for the Warriors to close out the series back home in Game 5. But had Durant not come up with his late-game heroics in Game 3 (he had seven of Golden State’s last 11 points), the Cavs may well have forced a Game 6 at the very least.

#2 Kevin Durant foot on the line in Game 7 vs Milwaukee Bucks

This is the most recent moment from Kevin Durant’s NBA career. The Brooklyn Nets, Durant’s latest NBA team, were playing the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semi-finals. With the score at 109-107 in favor of Milwaukee with six seconds left to play in the game, Brooklyn had possession of the basketball.

Jeff Green inbounded the ball to Durant, who after a couple of dribbles from beyond the three-point line on the right wing, spun and launched an incredible shot over PJ Tucker. The ball went in and the Brooklyn fans were ecstatic. Durant apparently hit a triple, giving his team a one-point lead with only one second left to play. It appeared that Milwaukee’s championship aspirations had ended prematurely for a third successive year thanks to KD’s brilliance.

However, upon review it was found that KD’s long feet were touching the three-point line when he launched the shot over Tucker. The basket was subsequently ruled to be a two-point shot, which meant the game went into over-time. And although Milwaukee went on to win the game, Durant put up 48 heroic points for his team on the night. KD summarized the effect of his long feet clipping the three-point line best when he said, “I thought it was a three, but my big-ass foot was on the line.”

#1 “You’re the real MVP”

Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Two

This moment actually comes off the basketball court, but it remains a top highlight from Kevin Durant’s career. It is from back in 2014 when Durant won his one and only regular season MVP award. With Russell Westbrook missing a bunch of games, Durant put the Oklahoma City Thunder on his back. He averaged a league-best 32.0 ppg, shooting 50.3% from the field. He also averaged 7.4 rpg and 5.5 apg, earning the Thunder the second-best record in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.

On the night of the award, Durant made a heartfelt speech. Dressed impeccably in a blue suit and a white polka-dotted black tie, Durant thanked each one his teammates, including Russell Westbrook and Caron Butler. He spoke about where he came from, the hardships he faced as a child and the people who motivated him. He teared up repeatedly during his speech, leaving the audience also in tears.

Right at the end, Durant thanked his mother, Wanda Durant. He told the audience how she kept him off the streets, how she fed him and his brother even when there was no food to eat. He ended his speech on the following memorable note, “You made us believe, put clothes on our backs… You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You’re the real MVP.”