The Curse of ‘The Next KD’
Fadeaway World
I struggle to understand if it is a testament to the greatness of Kevin Durant or just lazy journalism when a 6-7 (or taller) lanky forward can shoot the ball and is dubbed “the next Kevin Durant”.
In recent years we’ve had Brandon Ingram, Michael Porter Jr., Kristaps Porzingis, Bol Bol, and even Thon Maker crowned with the title of being the next KD. These players are very good in their own right, with both Ingram and Porzingis making All-Star appearances, but that does not emulate the talent that is Durant.
The skill set that KD possesses is one of the best we have ever seen in the history of this league and definitely for this height. Here, I will dive into these player comparisons and analyze why they are different.
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When we talk about the skill set of KD, the three things that set him apart from everyone else are his elite volume jump-shooting, handles, and, most importantly, his height.
I say height because that is directly related to his elite volume jump-shooting. The arc on his shot is too high for players to block, and his mid-range is almost like a layup to him. The problem with the players mentioned above is that half of them are not seven feet tall, and the ones that are do not possess the shot profile of KD.
When Durant’s shooting is discussed, it’s not simply catch-and-shoot threes. Instead, it’s threes in transition, coming off the screen, and shots of the dribble due to his elite handles. In addition, Durant has a guard-like crossover in his arsenal.
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Imagine all these skills, but instead of KD being seven-foot, he was 7-4. That’s where I introduce you to Victor Wembanyama. The potential first-overall pick in the 2023 draft has drawn strong comparisons to Durant. And no, this is not lazy journalism.
Wembanyama has NBA commissioner Adam Silver warning teams not to tank for him. However, this is not the “next KD” but the first Victor Wembanyama.
KD himself said when he gets drafted, the league is in trouble. I want to say that not only do the players mentioned above not meet the requirements to be KD, but maybe the pressure of being called the next KD got to them.
Wembanyama has LeBron, Giannis, and KD warning the league of his arrival and teams trading the house to get a chance to get him, so I think being called the “next KD” is the least of the kid’s problems when it comes to pressure.
