Last week in game five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Kevin Durant put on a playoff performance for the history books. Scoring 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, the triple-double performance was enough to earn the Nets the game five victory.
Following the game, teammates Isaiah Thomas and Jeff Green called Durant the “best player in the world”. Now nearly a week later, the Nets have been eliminated from the playoffs. To score a 45-15-10 triple double is impressive, but does it qualify him as the best in the world?
It is important to remember both Thomas and Green played with LeBron James back in the 2017-2018 season. While LeBron may have exited the playoffs one round earlier than Durant and the Nets, many would argue Durant has yet to eclipse LeBron as the greatest basketball player.
At 32 years old, Kevin Durant still has plenty of time left in the league. Who knows? Perhaps by the end of his career there will be no questions as to his place in NBA history.