Not much is being said about the fact that this season marks Kevin Durant’s twentieth in the NBA. We suppose LeBron James has normalized things that aren’t normal. TWENTY SEASONS. It’s true that he has missed almost two full seasons. But he debuted in 2007. TWENTY YEARS BEING PAID AS AN NBA PLAYER.
The point is that he hasn’t arrived by chance, but rather as still one of the best scorers and players on the planet. And above all, accumulating a massive amount of minutes on the court. Specifically 2,840, which made him the second-most minutes played in the entire NBA, only behind his teammate Amen Thompson.
At 37 years old (he’ll turn 38 next week), perhaps this should be a concern. Especially knowing he only managed to play one playoff game due to a muscle injury. And that’s the case for Rafael Stone and for Ime Udoka. Not for him.
— Reporter: “Rafael and Ime have mentioned that they want to reduce your minutes”
— Durant: “Why? I’m better on the floor. The team is better when I’m out there. […] If we close games in three quarters or even earlier, then maybe. But cutting my minutes just because ‘he’s old, he’s played a lot lately…’ For that I train. To play 48 minutes every night. I understand the concern. But if the game needs me, I want to be out there.”
— Reporter: “Do you think the playoffs put your teammates in uncomfortable positions without you and VanVleet?”
— Durant: “I don’t think basketball can put you in uncomfortable positions. You either learn from them or you don’t. I think the position they were placed in during the playoffs is exactly the kind of things they should go through.”
How exciting it is for the season to start in Houston.
