Kevin Durant has seen a lot of basketball film through the years, and three players in particular left an impression.
He told The Athletic's Shams Charania:
"Kobe [Bryant], MJ [Michael Jordan] and Kyrie [Irving]."Just the way they move, I don't understand why people don't realize what they're seeing in these three, especially Jordan and Kobe. Kyrie is younger than me, and that's one of my best friends, so I watch his stuff. I get to play with Steph [Curry] every day, so I know his game inside and out.
"But watching Kobe and Mike, I'm like, 'How do you not realize how good these dudes are?' How do you not say they're by far better than anybody who's played the game? Just by the way they move, how fluid they are."
He added: "I can't do what MJ does. I can't palm the ball. I wish. I can't shoot the turnaround, pump-fake spin, half-spin fadeaway like Kobe. Or crossover like Kyrie. I can't do it. But I can try it. I can do it in my version, do it in my way. It keeps me creative and my excitement level for the game."
And continued:
"Everybody that comes to my house, whether it's friends or family, I make them watch Jordan highlights. This is equivalent to [Albert] Einstein...f--king [Ludwig van] Beethoven...or [Barack] Obama. This is the greatest talent and athletes and minds of the world.
"Just because they play sports, people think one way. But they're masters, they're geniuses. I just started realizing that a few years ago: Watching those guys can really spark my creativity."
Durant said he also enjoys watching film of former Milwaukee Buck Sidney Moncrief and former New York Knicks Bernard King and Stephon Marbury.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2810246-kevin-durant-michael-jordan-kobe-bryant-kyrie-irving-stand-out-most-on-film________________
Very very interesting quotes from KD.
Definitely does add to the fact that as much as people dislike Kyrie, he is infinitely one of the most skilled guards in the history of the NBA. Not to mention being good friends with KD also helps when trying to bring star talent to the Celtics.
Who knows? If we had gotten Kyrie instead of IT, during the recruitment phase, do we think that Irving could've been the catalyst along with Brady? Who knows.
Kobe was a lesser version of MJ, but he also excelled at great post moves, and footwork.