Kevin Durant has elite athleticism

[JohnMax]

He's in the Lebron/Wade tier of athleticism but his body is too underdeveloped to showcase it like those guys.

[superduper]

Hot take of the year

[StrongLurk]

He's not in prime Lebron-tier athleticism, but KD's athleticism is easily the most underrated part of his game.

[Marchesk]

He's not Shawn Kemp level elite.

[hiphopanonymous]

He's very long and very coordinated for being so long - also soft touch

- but that's about it

Not a great leaper, not blazing fast, not incredibly strong, not blindingly quick, not gifted with huge hands for palming the ball



I think he's so good due to his skill + length, his athleticism (other than length and coordination) isn't what stands out to me

[Meticode]

Durant doesn't have elite athleticism. Otherwise he'd do some things like Giannis does around the basket, but he doesn't. Giannis stuffing people's faces.

You don't see Durant do dunks anything like Giannis...

[Jasper]

He's in the Lebron/Wade tier of athleticism but his body is too underdeveloped to showcase it like those guys.

if this would be true , he would post up.....
failed on thread(.)

[eliteballer]

He might if he juiced like wade and lebron.

[ZMonkey11]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIM2a8e6qfI

[E_Stamkos]

He's very long and very coordinated for being so long - also soft touch

- but that's about it

Not a great leaper, not blazing fast, not incredibly strong, not blindingly quick, not gifted with huge hands for palming the ball



I think he's so good due to his skill + length, his athleticism (other than length and coordination) isn't what stands out to me

This is a really accurate post.

[ImKobe]

LOOK AT THIS BEAST

[CTbasketball92]

Durant doesn't have elite athleticism. Otherwise he'd do some things like Giannis does around the basket, but he doesn't. Giannis stuffing people's faces.

You don't see Durant do dunks anything like Giannis...

It probably sounds blasphemous, but I actually think KD's athleticism is easily on par with Giannis'. He's got a 36+ inch vertical now and he's very fast in the open court. His first step for a 6'10" player is also astonishing. Also, he pulls off moves that a 6'3" guard can't pull off, and that's because his feet are incredibly nimble. Giannis has the power and even more length, but he'll never be more smooth/coordinated and maybe even much more of a leaper than KD.

[TheCorporation]

I was literally at this game, so this one did hurt a little.

Bron still dropped a 33-point triple double, having played 47 freakin' minutes but Golden State was still too much.

[AngelEyes]

It probably sounds blasphemous, but I actually think KD's athleticism is easily on par with Giannis'. He's got a 36+ inch vertical now and he's very fast in the open court. His first step for a 6'10" player is also astonishing. Also, he pulls off moves that a 6'3" guard can't pull off, and that's because his feet are incredibly nimble. Giannis has the power and even more length, but he'll never be more smooth/coordinated and maybe even much more of a leaper than KD.

Durant may be more smooth but he's definitely not more coordinated and he's nowhere near as explosive.

[bizil]

Elite YES! Freak athlete NO! I would compare KD to what Gervin was in his era. Iceman was an elite athlete in that era FOR SURE! BUT he wasn't a Dr. J or David Thompson level freak athlete. So u can't put KD on the level of an MJ, Nique, Bron, Drexler, Vince, Kobe, T Mac, or Wade type perimeter guy. BUT I would put him in the very good athlete type of class though. The freak guys have a certain type of explosiveness that jumps off the page. KD isn't quite on that level. KD and Ray Allen are great examples of guys who are very good athletes.