At 31, Kevin Durant is already one of the most accomplished scorers in NBA history. He has won four scoring titles, his career scoring average (27.0 PPG) ranks sixth all-time, with .493/.381/.883 shooting splits. His unique skill set has rendered him one of the most devastating, versatile, and effortless shot-makers in league history.
Most significantly, he’s averaged 29.1 PPG in 139 playoff games, earned two Finals MVPs, and splashed a litany of memorable buckets (and posters) along the way. KD is yet to show his game post-Achilles rupture and Brooklyn Nets signing, but let’s revisit the greatest shots of his first 12 seasons. (Also, a special shout-out to his string of consecutive pull up threes from increasing distance and hype to give him 66 points and shut down Rucker Park in 2011.)
10) Dirk-Step to Beat the Chicago Bulls, 2012
The inclusion of this dagger is less about the shot itself and more of an acknowledgement of Durant’s understandable and effective deployment of Dirk Nowitzki’s signature fadeaway. Like Dirk, Durant stands about 7-feet tall, making the one-legged fadeaway essentially unstoppable.
On Nov. 8, 2012, Durant put the move to good use: nailing a crunch-time bucket over Luol Deng to seal a win.
9) Durant goes One-on-Five, Beats the Atlanta Hawks
During a particularly hot stretch of his 2013-14 MVP campaign (with Russell Westbrook out with injury), Durant dropped 41 points (15-25 FG) on the Hawks on Jan. 27. With the game tied and 25.5 seconds left, Atlanta seemingly threw the entire team at Durant—to no avail. KD capped off his stellar performance with a tough running jumper over Demarre Carroll and Al Horford with 1.5 seconds to go to deliver Oklahoma City a 111-109 victory.
8) 2013 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 1
OKC trailed the Grit n’ Grind Memphis Grizzlies by one point with under 30 seconds to play, and Memphis had possession. After Mike Conley Jr. coughed it up in the lane, Durant confidently dribbled straight into an 18-footer, catching Tayshaun Prince by surprise with his abrupt move. Just like that, a win for OKC. Durant put up 35 points and 15 rebounds in this contest, but Memphis would storm back to shock the top-seeded Thunder in five games.
https://youtu.be/Hv6-bABct-E?t=246
7) Buzzer-Beater on the New York Knicks, 2011
Tied 98-98 with 6.5 rebounds remaining, Durant retrieved the ball from Westbrook, worked his way to the right and pocketed this beautiful and utterly unguardable fadeaway on Danilo Gallinari to defeat the Knicks at the buzzer—sending the Oklahoma City crowd into a frenzy.
6) Double-OT Game Winner vs. Toronto Raptors
On March 21, 2014, Durant posted a 51-pint, 12 rebound, seven assist masterclass in a double-overtime thriller vs. Toronto. Westbrook had been knocked out the game in the third quarter, leaving Durant to carry the load. Down two points with 8.8 seconds to go, Durant got control of the ball around half-court, sized up Amir Johnson, and danced into a cold-blooded triple.
https://youtu.be/rR3ctJIXJZo?t=333
5) Seattle SuperSonics Double-OT Buzzer Beater, 2007
Durant had an up-and-down rookie season playing shooting guard at age 19 for P.J. Carlesimo, but his potential and scoring prowess was evident, if not yet polished. One of his first marquee moments came on Nov. 17—a double-overtime win over Atlanta. Durant made less than 29% of his three-point attempts as a rookie, but nailed this tough trey over a double team with 2.1 seconds left. It was just the 10th game of his future Hall of Fame career.
4) Game Winner vs. the Dallas Mavericks, 2012 Western Conference First Round
Nothing wrong with a lucky bounce here and there. With OKC down one point with nine seconds left against the defending champions, Durant went to work on Shawn Marion. After The Matrix impressively thwarted his first move, KD reversed course, dribbled back left and lifted up for an impossible one-handed rainbow. A shooter’s touch guided the ball gently off the front rim, backboard, and through the twine to take the lead with 1.5 seconds on the clock. OKC would win the game and make a run to the Finals. It's hard to imagine anybody else making this shot—or even getting it off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO4IEZwNDFI
3) Another Game Winner vs. Dallas, 2011
Because of the lockout, this Dec. 29 matchup came in the NBA’s opening week, and Durant provided the 2011-12 season its first major thrill. He splashed this smooth catch-and-shoot fadeaway buzzer-beating three on the Mavericks—and made it look alarmingly easy.
2) Game 3, 2018 NBA Finals,
Durant’s career-best playoff series was punctuated by his dagger in Game 3 that essentially clinched the game and the title for Golden State. Durant (43 points, 15-23 FG, 13 rebounds, seven assists) simply roasted LeBron James in this one, with his pull-up three over J.R. Smith from extra-deep range to go up six serving as icing on the cake. To this day, this probably ranks as Durant's finest all-around performance.
1) 2017 NBA Finals, Game 3
Perhaps the most incredible component of Durant’s 2018 Finals game-winner was that nearly the exact same play occurred precisely one year prior. With Golden State up 2-0 in the series and trailing by 1 in Cleveland with under a minute to play, Durant grabbed snagged a rebound, took it up court himself, and noticed a sagging James inexplicably playing off the three-point arc. Durant moseyed directly into his favorite spot on the left wing and elevated for the hoop.
Golden State would win the game and close out the Cavs in Game 4 for Durant’s first ring.
For all of his memorable buckets, this shot marked KD’s first truly clutch moment on the game's biggest stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO5vDFxDBYk&feature=emb_title
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