KD's Silent Climb: More Efficient Than Ever, And It's No Accident
Vincent Goodwill stirred the pot a bit last week, pointing out something that, if you’re just watching the highlights, might seem counterintuitive: Kevin Durant, in his post-Achilles era, has become a more efficient scorer than ever. And yeah, he’s right. When Durant slid past Michael Jordan for 14th on the all-time scoring list last month, hitting 27,423 career points against the Nuggets, it wasn’t just a volume play. It was a masterclass in surgical scoring.
Think about it. Before the Achilles tear in the 2019 Finals, Durant was already one of the most gifted scorers the league had seen. He was putting up 26, 27 points a night, a four-time scoring champ. But since he returned in the 2020-21 season with the Nets, the numbers tell a different story. In his last full season with Golden State, 2018-19, Durant shot 52.1% from the field. Pretty good, right? Well, in 2021-22 with Brooklyn, he hit 51.8% on slightly fewer attempts. This season, at 35, playing for the Suns, he’s hitting 52.6% from the field and an insane 42.1% from three-point range. Those are career-highs for a full season from beyond the arc. He's doing it on 19.3 shots per game, still a high volume, but those shots are just *cleaner*.
Context and History
Durant’s offensive rating is currently a career-best 124. His true shooting percentage sits at 63.8%, also a career high. He’s taking fewer contested shots. He’s not relying on pure athleticism to blow by guys as much anymore, though he still can. Instead, it’s all about the footwork, the release point, and that untouchable mid-range fadeaway. He’s adapted. When he dropped 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting against the Lakers on March 20th, it wasn't a highlight reel of monster dunks. It was a clinic in shot selection.
Thing is, this efficiency isn't just about getting older and smarter. It’s also about necessity. His athleticism, while still elite for his size, isn't what it was pre-injury. He can’t carry the defensive load he once did, which means his offensive energy needs to be maximized. When he first came back, there were questions about whether he’d ever be *that* guy again. He answered them by hitting 53.7% from the field and 45% from three in the 2021 playoffs, averaging over 34 points against the Bucks in a grueling seven-game series. That was the proof.
Here's the hot take: This version of Durant, the one who picked apart defenses with surgical precision, is actually *more* valuable in today's NBA than the slightly more athletic, slightly wilder pre-Achilles version. He’s less prone to forced turnovers (a career-low 2.1 turnovers per game this season) and his shot selection is simply impeccable. You know where he's going to be, but you still can't stop him.
Current Situation
Phoenix isn't exactly lighting the world on fire, sitting 8th in the West at 46-32 as of April 9th, but it's not because of Durant. He’s consistently delivering. If the Suns can figure out their rotation and get some consistency, Durant’s methodical scoring could be their secret weapon in the playoffs.
Bold prediction: Durant will pass Shaquille O'Neal (28,596 points) next season to crack the top 10 all-time scorers, proving that even a devastating injury couldn’t stop his climb.