New York Knicks star big man Julius Randle thinks Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant belongs with the likes of Wolverine, Magneto and Charles Xavier.
Randle said Durant is the toughest player to guard during an appearance on Victory The Podcast. He also made a funny sort of allusion to the X-Men:
“Kevin Durant. He’s a mutant. He’s a 7-foot guard,” Randle said, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “He was playing the 4 position earlier this year and I had to guard him for the entire game. He doesn’t see anybody on the court.”
The former league MVP is a matchup nightmare for opponents with his size, length and athleticism.
Durant can shoot over anybody and pull up for 3s on odd-man breaks. He can dissect opposing defenders with the handle and finish at the rim, or get on the low block and make things happen in the post.
Sound like anyone else, Knicks fans?
Randle has displayed a similar sort of skill set to Durant in what has been a standout 2020-21 season. The All-Star has generated MVP buzz, averaging 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He is shooting nearly 46 percent from the field and above 41 percent from beyond the arc.
The intangibles Randle provides have been every bit as important to the Knicks. He has been a consummate leader and has played the most minutes in the NBA. As a result, New York has been the surprise of the NBA, going 38-31 thus far.
So, Durant might well be a mutant. But Randle is a unique challenge in his own right. Perhaps he will be KD's foil if the Knicks and Nets happen to meet in the playoffs.
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