Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant is a student of basketball.
When he's not playing basketball and winning championships, he's probably watching basketball, either a live game or film on some of his favorite players.
In a recent interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania, Durant revealed three players who've really impressed him while watching film, and one of them is Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving.
“Kobe (Bryant), MJ (Michael Jordan) and Kyrie,” Durant said. “Just the way they move, I don’t understand why people don’t realize what they’re seeing in these three, especially Jordan and Kobe. Kyrie is younger than me, and that’s one of my best friends, so I watch his stuff. I get to play with Steph every day so I know his game inside and out. But watching Kobe and Mike, I’m like, ‘How do you not realize how good these dudes are?’ How do you not say they’re by far better than anybody who’s played the game? Just by the way they move, how fluid they are."
Later in the interview, Durant added: “I can’t do what MJ does. I can’t palm the ball. I wish. I can’t shoot the turnaround, pump-fake spin, half-spin fadeaway like Kobe. Or crossover like Kyrie. I can’t do it. But I can try it. I can do it in my version, do it in my way. It keeps me creative and my excitement level for the game.”
In fairness to KD, there are many players who cannot do what he does, especially at 7-feet tall. He's one of the most unique and most talented players in NBA history.
It's interesting, though, that Durant considers Irving one of his "best friends." Of course, Durant can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, with rumors and speculation linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and other teams.
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He met with the Celtics in free agency in 2016 before ultimately signing with the Warriors. Would he consider the C's again if he decides to leave the Warriors? If he would, the Celtics should have one of his "best friends" try to convince him to take his talents to Boston.
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