Scoring Champion vs NBA Champion

        Thunder forward Kevin Durant posted his third triple double on Wednesday night in a 119 - 74 win over the New Orleans Hornets (soon to be Pelicans). All three of Durants triple doubles have come in this, his 6th NBA season. Durant has been a scorer his entire career. He has three straight NBA scoring titles and is staring down a rare fourth in a row. Durant is a pure scorer. He has shown the ability to score inside, outside and... well, from anywhere on the court. KD could have a very long and satisfying career just scoring. No one would think any less of him. In fact, there are plenty of fans and sports reporters that would like him to do just that. Many fans cringe when Durant favors passing over scoring. They cry foul when KD puts up blue collar point totals. Sports reporters claim that he is passing up good scoring opportunities in favor of serving up helpers for teammates like Thabo and Perk. Scoring a lot is fun, it's American (see soccer) and it puts fans in the seats. So why would Durant not just keep scoring? Why devote any time to anything else? After all, he is the best pure shooter in the NBA.

      Consider the following. Golden State star Steph Curry scored an NBA league high 54 points on Wednesday night.....in a 109-105 loss to the Knicks. Great individual night but not a great team result. This season, Durant came in committed to improving his rebounding and assist totals. It is my contention that KD is aware of his scoring ability. But, I believe that he also know that while individual  scoring will win games it's not likely a formula for a championship run. In addition, to be considered an elite player, in the same arena as Bird, Jordan, Magic and LeBron James, KD must be a complete player. Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson all have  multiple League MVP titles and Multiple NBA Championships. LeBron will probably add another Championship to his two  MVP trophies. They also all excelled in scoring, rebounding and assists. Durant wants both trophies and he knows what he has to do to get them.

     Kevin Durant is a consummate team player. He makes those around him better. He is taking the next obvious step in his maturation as a player and a team leader. He is on the right track. KD's high scoring game this year is 52 points. That was the season high until Curry put up 54. Impressive? Yes, but let me do a little math. Durant's line on Wednesday was 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Lets say that each assist was worth 2.1 points (considering a few 3 point baskets) and half of his rebounds resulted in scores, again at 2.1 points. My math tells me that Durant had a hand in 61 of the teams 119 points or, roughly 50 percent of the scoring. And the team won.

     KD is young and smart. His scoring average is 28.5. Given the choice between Durant the scoring Champ or Durant the Triple double threat,  I'll take the triple double any day. Cut the man some slack. His new passion for passing and rebounding may not lead to many more scoring titles, but I believe it will eventually lead to an MVP or two and at least one NBA Championship, if not more.

For Buster.