Kevin Durant’s ability to score is unparalleled in the NBA. It’s always been his greatest attribute and a large part of why any team he joins instantly becomes a legitimate NBA title contender — and why the Golden State Warriors teams that featured him, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were impossible to beat when they were all healthy.
There’s a lot that goes into making Durant unguardable for opposing defenses. To put it simply, it’s nearly impossible to contest his shots because of his combination of skill and length. Listed at 6-foot-10 without sneakers on, some have said Durant is actually close to being a seven-footer.
While he’s not as dense as bigs like DeAndre Jordan, Durant could very well line up at the five in today’s NBA — much like Nets teammate Jeff Green did for the Houston Rockets last season.
Well, turns out Durant playing the five is part of the Nets’ plans for 2020-21.
“I think coach is gonna use me in a variety of ways, especially as a small-ball five, four sometimes and bringing the ball up, too.” Durant said on a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday. “So I just gotta be ready for anything.”
But that doesn’t mean Durant will mostly play the five moving forward.
“It’s more so we [are] trying to play a style of offense where everybody can utilize their strengths,” the Nets star said. “If they can handle the ball, anybody can bring it up. Guys are going to be switching on the defensive side of the ball.
“As the game goes and it ebbs and flows, each play I think guys are going to play different positions. One possession, Kyrie [Irving] might be the two, Caris [LeVert] might be bringing it up. So I think you just gotta be ready for anything. But, coach is just going to throw me out there and see how I respond.”