NBA: Top 10 Players In The Western Conference
By Ti Windisch
1. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant, who was the best player on Team USA in the 2016 Olympics, will continue being the best in the Western Conference next season. While it’s currently impossible to tell exactly what his role will be with the Warriors, that might not really matter.
Defenses have to figure out how to stop him, and Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala. All at once. The versatility and shooting ability of this team is something that’s never been seen before, and will be taken to extreme new levels with the addition of the NBA’s most gifted scorer.
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He’s nearly as good of a shooter as Curry is, and a better inside scorer and post-up scorer. He’s also a better defender, who will slot in next to other long, great defenders in Thompson and Green. Durant will likely run the offense at times in Golden State, and should have no trouble finding shooters with open space once opposing teams try to stop him from scoring.
His minutes per game and usage rate might drop, but Durant’s assist numbers and efficiency should skyrocket this season. He will be unbelievable, and shouldn’t be counted out from MVP consideration even if teams with two candidates rarely come away with a win.
Next: The Ten Best Players In The Eastern Conference
Durant’s time with Golden State will be his magnum opus. He’s going to have fun, and he’s going to try and prove for the first time that he’s the NBA’s best player.