Modeling His Game, Kevin Durant Cites Kobe Bryants Skill as Second to none. Mar 13, 2014 Kevin Durant really, really (really) respects Kobe Bryant. Speaking with the Los Angeles Daily News Mark Medina, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar didnt duck questions of Bryants influence and talent, readily putting him in the company of Michael Jordan. He’s the greatest of all time. His skill is second to none. Him and MJ are neck and neck as far as skill, Durant said. Kobe is the top two best ever in just having skill, footwork, shooting the 3, shooting the pull-up, posting up, dunking on guys and ball handling. Kobe and Jordan are 1 and 1A. Someone—not me—is going to misinterpret what Durant is saying. While Bryant will certainly be remembered as one of the all-time greats, Durant isnt calling him the absolute best ever. Skill is different from resume, just as athleticism isnt the same thing as talent. Just because Durant is saying Bryant has the skills necessary to be pitted alongside Jordan, doesnt mean hes suggesting Bryant is better than Jordan. Now that the obligatory Dont you dare overreact is out of the way, lets consider how revered Bryant is among the NBAs younger generation. Durant goes on to admit he called Bryant late one night for advice while mulling how to model his game. He isnt the first active superstar to wax respect and admiration for the Black Mamba, and he wont be the last. Back in January, Indiana Pacers wunderkind Paul George called Bryant his all-time favorite player during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, even though he grew up rooting for the Los Angeles Clippers. Thats the type of reach Bryant has. Thats how long hes been around. Unlike others, Durant and George wont stain anything Bryant has accomplished or spend time discrediting and tainting his legacy. When you look at me, Carmelo (Anthony), LeBron and Paul George, what we’ve done out there in this league is nothing compared to what Kobe did, Durant told Medina. We live in a world of what have you done for me lately. We don’t remember the day before sometimes. Think back five, six, years ago what he was doing. It’s unheard of. I mean, wow. There isnt a comment in recent years pertaining to Bryant that stands out more than Durants, especially when you consider how infrequently compliments are thrown his way today. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press Durant and Bryant are cut from the same mold in terms of work ethic. At 35, the Mamba finds himself facing adversity he has never met before. Age and mortality have gotten the best of him since last spring, starting with a ruptured Achilles, continuing with a second injury and culminating in his inability to return again this season, according to Bleacher Reports Kevin Ding. Submit Vote vote to see results But thats what time does. Players break down. Careers hit their twilight. Reputations never die, though. And an extension of Bryant lives on in Durant, who boasts an equally ridiculous work ethic and innate need to improve. The thing that KD and Kobe have is their ability every night to do it, Thunder coach Scott Brooks explained to Medina. That is a talent that people do not ever bring up enough. It’s their ability to want to do it every single night for 82 games. When able, Bryant has brought it every single night for nearly two decades. And though he wont cop to it himself, Durant cannot only idolize that, he can relate to it.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 20:55:46 +0000
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