Kevin Durant has long been considered one of the best scorers in NBA history. His ability to put the ball in the hoop has been one of the major strengths of his game as he ranks eighth on the NBA's all-time scoring list. The 15-time All-Star has not averaged fewer than 25.0 points per game since his rookie season, all the way back in 2007-08.
The four-time scoring champion has not received the same level of praise for his efficiency. Durant has not shot below 50.0% from the field since 2011-12, when he was at 49.6%. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Hall of Famer Steve Nash recently hosted the newest Houston Rockets star on their "Mind the Game" podcast.
The four-time MVP gave Durant his flowers for his ability to consistently score at an efficient level.
"He hasn't shot under 50% since like 2012," Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James stated. "And in a league that doesn't talk about efficiency enough. Because I'm one of those efficiency guys. I hate going out there just chucking up shots or looking at the box score and I was, maybe, 8-23 or 9-25 or 6-18."
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"You're going to have those nights for sure, but for the majority of the season, being efficient, it's something I've always prided myself on," James continued. "And this guy, when it comes to three-level scorer -- three-pointers, mid-range, below the Gary Payton area, below the (Karl) Malone area and finishing -- we haven't had a scorer as equipped as KD in our league. Ever."
Durant has averaged 27.2 points per game while shooting 50.2% from the field, 39.0% from three-point range and 88.2% from the free-throw line during his legendary NBA career. Despite being 36 years old, he was just as productive in 2024-25 when he averaged 26.6 ppg on 52.7/43.0/83.9 shooting splits.
The two-time NBA champion remains one of the only players to come back from a torn Achilles and remain as productive as he was prior to the injury. In fact, he has averaged more points per game on better efficiency after suffering the injury that is typically career-altering.
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