Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant is already a freak of nature capable of scoring anywhere on the basketball court, but at the age of 28 and still in his prime, he knows that he still has a lot to learn to add to his game.
The good thing though is he's aware of exactly what to do and where to look.
Appearing on the latest Bill Simmons Podcast, Durant didn't shy away from admitting that his footwork is one area where he can still develop and that he is watching and taking cues from Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, who he said has the “best footwork I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
“Scoring the ball, I feel like I’ve mastered how to score from every area, how to make a shot from every spot on the floor.”
“But now it’s about how many different combinations can I add? I’ve got a lot more to learn. … DeMar DeRozan’s probably got the best footwork I’ve seen in a long, long time. I’ve been trying to watch him to see how he does it.”
“He’s just way more athletic than I am first of all, so his body can move a little different, but his pace is amazing. He’s a guy I’ve been studying lately just because of his footwork. Every time I see him I’m just looking at how his body, his footwork. I think that’s where I can get better.”
The 2017 Finals MVP's praise of DeRozan isn't without basis, and this isn't the first time that he talked about the amazing footwork of his former Team USA teammate. Before facing the Raptors in November last year, Durant acknowledged the three-time All-Star's ground game.
Durant averaged 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 62 regular season games for the Warriors last year, and it's safe to say that he was an unstoppable force that played a vital role in Golden State's championship run.
However, if he polishes his footwork and adds more to his arsenal to become a bigger isolation threat, there's no saying if any player can hold a candle against him.
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