Top 50: Kevin Durant, no. 8

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• Darksaber Posted: Oct.16 at 8:10 am
  Yeeesh, talk about premature…

• Ken Posted: Oct.16 at 8:11 am
  Queue 200 posts of hate….now:

• Theodore Posted: Oct.16 at 8:16 am
  too high!!!!!!!!!!

• Ken Posted: Oct.16 at 8:18 am
  Before the hate really starts pouring on, please consider these points/questions:
  1. Kevin didn’t ask to be this high on the list. Your real beef is with the list, not with Kevin.
  2. This will be his third year in the league, and he’s not even 21 years old. How many 20 year olds in the NBA, or third year players are/were any good at defense?
  3. 6.5 rebounds as a sophomore who is asked to be the primary scorer on his team isn’t that bad. Finally, this whole “baby ice” nickname needs to go. Durantula is so much more fitting and badass.

• rikson Posted: Oct.16 at 8:19 am
  Still cant estimate how high his peak is…. dont know if thats a good or a bad sign!

• Juice Posted: Oct.16 at 8:20 am
  Velvet hoop all day kid is a monster

• Hisham Posted: Oct.16 at 8:25 am
  good job of adding to the (justified) hype, Ben. This article is making me anxious to get the season started.

• jk_light Posted: Oct.16 at 8:26 am
  Let all hate break lose.

• rikson Posted: Oct.16 at 8:26 am
  *his peak will be

• jk_light Posted: Oct.16 at 8:26 am
  *hell

• rikson Posted: Oct.16 at 8:27 am
  “Kevin didn’t ask to be this high on the list. Your real beef is with the list, not with Kevin.” Sounds like youre his mother….

• BeeBopLIVE Posted: Oct.16 at 8:28 am
  Number 8 is good bc the only players above him are (not in this specific order) duncan, lebron, kobe, dwade, chris paul, carmelo, and dwight so good spot 4 tha boi durant

• rikson Posted: Oct.16 at 8:28 am
  This side has MAJOR bugs with Safari !!!!!

• jk_light Posted: Oct.16 at 8:33 am
  In my opinion Kevin Durant COULD be the most important player to US Basketball next to Lebron for the next 5 - 10 years. Both in the NBA and international competition. At least he’s gonna be a lethal scorer for the next decade. I definetely would have put him lower but the sky is the limit for him.

• kay_nock Posted: Oct.16 at 8:34 am
  Dun understand why theres so much hate for Durant’s place on the list. This kid is going to be a dead set super star! Just think about it, his already scoring at will with his skinny ass frame, imagine when he starts to fill out his frame….down right SCAREY!!

• jalen Posted: Oct.16 at 8:39 am
  Special K is a much better nickname than durantula

• BeeBopLIVE Posted: Oct.16 at 8:41 am
  I personally think if kevin durant wanted 2 he really could be a spectacular defender, his body is like a cage and his physical tooks make scoring look like breathing for him, and he can easily average 10 rebounds and about 1.5 bpg & 2 steals because of his length

• Danny W UK Posted: Oct.16 at 8:42 am
  And I quote the article ‘it’s too early’. Don’t get me wrong, the kid is super nice. Just not number 8 nice, yet. I think Durantula sounds like something someone that averages 2 Blocks, and 2 Steals a game. Once he accomplishes these Stats he can have that name.

• Friday Bolts – 10.16.09 | Daily Thunder.com Posted: Oct.16 at 8:43 am
  [...] SLAM’s top 50 players with Durant checking in at eight: “One of my favorite things about working for a magazine that covers basketball from high school through the pros is getting to watch players develop every step of the way, and see how Kevin Durant my/our projections pan out. When I saw Kevin Durant play in high school, to be honest, I had my doubts. Not doubts about making the League or anything, especially because the scoring was obvious then, but his skinniness drove me to distraction and I could not project NBA greatness for him.” [...]

• matt the jazz fan Posted: Oct.16 at 8:44 am
  well written post and good luck to him!
  i’d lke to see how everyone voted one through 50
  also it’d be interesting for the authors to jutify why player x is above the one(s) right below him - it’s often what’s debated in the comments so could be addressed here

• Bryan Posted: Oct.16 at 8:44 am
  I think durant is going to surprise a lot of people and if he puts up 30 points and 8 rebounds a game next year he will justify this pick.

• jude Posted: Oct.16 at 8:45 am
  i dont hate KD at all man, he’s gonna be a MVP one day - book that

• iLL wiLL Posted: Oct.16 at 8:49 am
  I fuc*ks with the Thunder in 2k10.

• Eric Woodyard Posted: Oct.16 at 8:55 am
  KD is about to blow this season! He needs to get on the cover soon…It would be tight if you guys had him on the front just like the old Iceman Nike poster

• Hisham Posted: Oct.16 at 9:03 am
  Haha that’s funny because of course Eric already knows that they’ve done that already with someone else

• rog123 Posted: Oct.16 at 9:12 am
  He is gonna be in the same position as wade last year and brons first 3 or 4 seasons. A great talent on a not so great team. Difference is that okc is not great , but they do have a lot of young talent.

• rikson Posted: Oct.16 at 9:21 am
  Durantula sounds a like girl - just sayin….

• Gerard Himself Posted: Oct.16 at 9:28 am
  IF I’m gonna get League Pass this season, I’ll be sure to check out some Thunder games (Thunder…. can’t get used to that name). Durant, Green, Westbrook and the rest are so much fun to see running down the court. They might be the most fun team to watch this season. Yes? No?

• tavoris Posted: Oct.16 at 9:45 am
  I agree Gerard…dont’ forget about Kristic and Livingston, too…they’re young as hell, but talented and pretty deep.

• larsylad Posted: Oct.16 at 9:46 am
  To me there are quite a few similarities between KD and Kevin Martin. Similarities in what they don’t do. To me they are just scorers, ball-in-the-bucket type players. I give KD the edge and I can actually see him top 10 in 2010 because I think he’s ready to evolve his game and become a solid rebounder and defender. To me, he’s not top-10 now, but I can see him growing into that, and to me this whole list is about where the’ll be during the upcoming season. Not who they are RIGHT NOW.

• black pinoy Posted: Oct.16 at 9:58 am
  great write up.. great way to defend why he should be this high.. but that wont stop the hate forum from happening.. hate starts below
  this line****************

• Slick Nick Da Ruler Posted: Oct.16 at 10:14 am
  Kevin will fulfill this ranking.

• Exile Posted: Oct.16 at 10:15 am
  Lot of calling for hate…. anxious? I don’t think most of the critics are going to hate on the player, just the placement. Acknowledge, the dude should be great, is damn good right now…. but is on a bad team and hasn’t had the “break-out” moment yet (which usually happens in the playoffs or in an epic head to head). End of the day… I think this is too high, but I didn’t see Orlando being as good as they were last year or the Raptors being so bad.

• Jacki Jormp-Jomp Posted: Oct.16 at 10:16 am
  Guess who’s getting a cover this year?

• Chris Posted: Oct.16 at 10:27 am
  Can we just say he’s 6′10″. It would make me feel better.

• Wayno Posted: Oct.16 at 10:34 am
  I don’t know if I can argue with this placement. This is seriously going to be a monster year for this kid. He can score from anywhere on the floor, he can shoot, he’s got handles, he can board, he just needs to work on his D, and like others have said, there aren’t THAT many 19,20,or 21 years olds capable of D’ing up NBA players.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 10:44 am
  i am really busy at the moment but i’ll take some time to tell you some things cause there is enough “……………………….”(28 dots hursty,tavoris,allenp,jukai,etc. find the word now…) around here regarding the most important player to hit the U.S. bball in the last 12 years (since KOBE).
  So, A LETTER TO MY KIDS (paraphreising Kafka).

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 10:45 am
  DURANT(and KOBE before him, and M.J. before him,etc) IS THE REASON WHY THE U.S. BBALL WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN WORLD BASKETBALL. Everybody else can try it’s best , they can play as organized/smart/disciplined they can, practice every summer,have the same players play together and develop chemistry since their teens(like Spain, Greece,Lithuania, Argentina) but in the end this is what will always happen: after all the Kemp’s/Lebron’s/Smith’s/etc (pick your own freak of nature athletically) every 10 years(aproximativelly ) there will come a player that will be BOTH illegal physically (and Durant is exactly this for his position) AND illegal offensively (meaning: be able to shoot from every place of the court without a second thought. I will repeat it till eternity if I have to in order for you to figure it out: SHOOTING the ball is number 1 thing in bball ). There are times in really big games when NOTHING matters more than being able to reliably create your own shot against any kind of defence. This exactly what happened with KOBE in last years final (mind you that NBA players know the truth about ‘who is who’. They gave KOBE the (bball)fate of a nation in the biggest stage that can possibly be, not because they are losers,Wade, Lebron, Melo ain’t losers, they gave it because they know better than the average fun. The rest of the world can produce a “completely complete” offensive weapon(Drazen,Dirk,Siskauskas,Manu) BUT it can never have the athletic freakiness to make it unguardable. I think that Durant is the guy that is getting the torch from Kobe just like the latter took it from M.J. And i think that the torch is in really good hands….(unfortunately for the rest of us but for the joy of my beloved kids)

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 10:50 am
  Kobe for MVP.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 10:55 am
  @jk_light…..:man ,you can really see basketball. (or maybe it is just that i agree with many of your thoughts.It happens many times this with humans: thay tend to appreciate/like anything that “looks” like themselves)

• Allenp Posted: Oct.16 at 10:57 am
  The fact that he is so young really is amazing. I am kind of miffed at SLAM for putting him over proven vets, but damn, son was on some Lebron stuff the way he has been killing since he was a teenager. Gotta respect that.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 10:58 am
  @James the balla….: KOBE is the real MVP of this league since 2004 just like M.J was from 1988 to 1998. Don’t worry about journalist trophies (even a shoe-seller can get one….)

• 360vue Posted: Oct.16 at 10:58 am
  not my number 8 but a nice write up and case for the placement. good to see some D of his not so awful D, he can definitely improve it and he certainly will

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 11:00 am
  correction on comment 10:58 am: “league”=”world bball”

• Juice20 Posted: Oct.16 at 11:00 am
  Durant for president

• 360vue Posted: Oct.16 at 11:02 am
  rikson, durantula doesnt sound like a girl to me? infact, it sounds distinctly like a nickname, with a fusion of tarantula and durant. but then again, maybe i just cant hear it

• Allenp Posted: Oct.16 at 11:05 am
  Greek Dude
  Whis it impossible for the rest of the world to have an athletic and complete ball player?
  Y’all have athletes, y’all have complete players, just put the two together. Sounds like y’all don’t have the drive.

• Double J Posted: Oct.16 at 11:17 am
  hahahah crazy statement about to be made… lebron and dwade are afraid to be shown up by kd in the world championships…

• jk_light Posted: Oct.16 at 11:19 am
  @Pan
  I also agree with lots of your opinions but I also disagree with lots of others. At least I know that you exaggerate a LOT just to get on the nerves of some here or to get attention. And you have an annoying style of sounding like the guy who knows it all and that your opinion is the final answer to all.
  There are a lot of smart hoop heads on here and I like to read their comments, there are some that are entertaining and some where I can just shake my head.
  You are all three in one person

• Brad Long Posted: Oct.16 at 11:26 am
  I’m loving this ranking and this post. I understand the heat about putting him over a few more complete players but like I said the other day, it’s hard to have a guy who has a legitimate shot at avg. 30 this season not in the top 10.

• Bryan Posted: Oct.16 at 11:26 am
  Ill just say again I feel like this dude could be the best in the league one day and at worst top 3.

• rikson Posted: Oct.16 at 11:31 am
  @360 I guess its because Im a native german speaker, and spider is female in german! @AllenP: I think its due to the different size of the markets. In europe football (soccer) is king of hill! We tend to say: “King soccer rules the world”…. You can have all talent you want, but you still gonna need money to develop such athletic ability! Dont know exactly, but I think its the same in soccer if USA would play any big european country!

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 11:33 am
  @jk-light…..: if i have really achieved the last sentence of your final comment then i am honstly flattered. Thanks.

• niQ Posted: Oct.16 at 11:33 am
  Co-sign ken. He literally said EVERYTHING I had to say. I even mentioned the Durantula name thing in the Durant dunk video on Joel Anthony.

• Antwonomous Posted: Oct.16 at 11:34 am
  “I thought his best-case scenario was to be the next T-Mac…” Sheez, Ben. You say that like it’s a bad thing. Do you remember how good T-Mac was at his peak? He was one of the two best all-around players in the league.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 11:39 am
  @Antwonomous…: E-X-A-C-T-L-Y.

• The D Train Posted: Oct.16 at 11:43 am
  @PANAGIOTIS: A very well made point about being able to shoot the basketball, as opposed to driving to the cup and hoping to draw a foul or trying a spectacular shot whilst surrounded by 3 or 4 interior defenders. Your point shows the basic difference between early MJ - late MJ, early Kobe - late Kobe, and right now, Lebron - Kobe. The ability to create a jump shot against one man is what helps a player jump from great the the next level. The amount of energy Kobe expends to break down his defender and create space to get off a jump shot is substantially less than what Lebron takes to drive past his man and into the trees. Jordan’s fall-away his later years, Kobe’s jumper these days…it allows them to maintain their energy which they can then expend on defense. As this applies to Durant: he’s got the ability to shoot the J right now that some guys take years to hone. If Durant wants to be a great defender, he will be because he won’t have to expend all of his energy slashing into the teeth of the defense every time down the floor. The combination of the supreme physical ability these cats have, combined with being able to shoot from over 15 feet make them absolute freaks in the world of competitive basketball.

• Orlando Woolridge Posted: Oct.16 at 11:45 am
  I don’t see what age has to do with this list. Its about NEXT YEAR. Just because he will get better with age doesn’t have anything to do with next years output.

• The D Train Posted: Oct.16 at 11:48 am
  @Antwonomous: I’m guessing that he’s referring to the fact that T-Mac’s window as one of the “best all-around players in the league” was only a few years. Durant is so young that one could reasonably assume that his window will stay open much longer than McGrady’s did (obviously due to injuries…i loved me some serious T-Mac back in the day, like arguing with cats that he was more complete than Kobe back then)

• Allenp Posted: Oct.16 at 11:55 am
  Y’all are underestimating Lebron’s jumper.
  The fact is, Lebron came into the League with no jumper whatsoever, and has seen it steadily improve.
  Hell, look at the improvement in DWade’s jumper since he got to the league.
  Neither of them is as good a shooter as Kobe, but both of them have improved.
  Greek dude
  I don’t know much about soccer, but are most soccer player as tall as basketball players? I always assumed small quick people would be better at soccer, which would seem to be drawing from a different pool than basketball.
  Plus, don’t the best soccer players come from the Latin American countries?

• Afonso Posted: Oct.16 at 11:55 am
  Durant will be top 5 in a couple of years..he just isn´t the 8 best player today, period..first he needs to lead hes young talented team to at least an .500 record, then we can start talkin..aparently, SLAM does not give a sh33t to team bball/winning ball games..this is not a 5year projection list or hell defenetly be top 5…@greek dude: as mutch as you don´t like Bron because he doest have a perfect stroke and sells a lot of shoes ( wtf dude?!?!!), THE REALITY IS THAT TORCH IS FROM KOBE TO HIM SIMPLY BECAUSE HES A COMPLETE PLAYER, NOT JUST A FREAKISH ATHELETE, like you seem to think..hes not Ray Ray when it comes to shoot but everything else like court vision, handle, passing skills, defense, winning mentality, making ALL HIS TEAMMATES BETTER, witch KD hardly does, but hes young, he proly will…I think Durantula will fight with Bron for the MVP in 5 years but only thing kid has on him is stroke and bball is far from being just that..even at shooting Bron is improving a lot..

• Dagomar Posted: Oct.16 at 11:55 am
  This article is pathetic. Okay, I like Durant. Who doesn’t? But I hate the disrespect people pile on T-Mac when they talk about Durant. T-Mac in Orlando was an insanely good player who could do it all on the offensive side of things. Durant is a great scorer right now. There are better in the league, but Durant might be a top-five scorer for next year. But what else, exactly, does he do well at this point? Is he a great passer? A great defender? Does he board well? Does he block shots? Ultimately, is his overall impact on the outcome of games comparable to that of D-Will or Dirk? Of course not. And that’s why he’s not yet a winner. In my book Lebron is the best player in the game today, but hype like this is exactly why so many people don’t like him right now. The Durant hype is poisoning how people feel about him, and that’s too bad. I think he might become an all-time great someday, but this ranking and this level of hype is premature.

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 12:08 pm
  Panagiotis - If your around this season. You will see I fight for my boy Kobe ALOT on this site. We have 100’s of debates lol, they are pretty interesting.

• The D Train Posted: Oct.16 at 12:10 pm
  @AllenP: I wasn’t disrespecting Lebron’s jumper, but at this point he is still most affective driving to the rim because of his size and crazy physical abilities. His jumper has improved since day one, and I am sure it will continue to do so. His perimeter game is not on par with Kobe right now, but Kobe’s perimeter game in his formative years wasnt on par with where it is now. My point as it relates to Durant is that his perimeter game is already seasoned, so he won’t have to take the physical abuse that Lebron does.

• Afonso Posted: Oct.16 at 12:11 pm
  @DAGOMAR: YOU HAVE JUST WRITTEN THE MOTHERF#CKIN TRUTH!!!!!!!!CONGRATS, 100% right on the spot!!

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 12:12 pm
  Brad - Odom got hurt last night, had to leave the game!! Something with his shin!!

• Thype Posted: Oct.16 at 12:12 pm
  KD is the one guy I’m not sure about when compiling the ‘tiers’ of players in this list. The boy can score, but the hype is in full effect right now if Slam Online really thinks this kid should be in the top 10 at this point in his development. As a basketball fan I’m stoked for this year, I’m stoked to see him play to such a level that landing at #8 is justified. But as of right now, nothing you can show me, no stat, no play, nothing, can justify his position on this list. It is way to early to put him between DWill, BRoy, Superman, and Melo. Gotta have a winning season before you belong in the top 10 in my opinion, period.

• The D Train Posted: Oct.16 at 12:13 pm
  totally off subject: i’m watching the Mavs-Pistons game and can anyone tell me what the F is up with Rip Hamilton’s hair? he has some kind of reverse-soul patch kind of thing on the back of his head…has anyone else seen this?

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 12:15 pm
  AllenP - No one, and I mean NO ONE is underestimating Bron’s J lol. His J was ALOT better in high school. It basically sucks now.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 12:17 pm
  lot’s of points to respond to, i go shoot some hoops and i hope i mae it up in the evening…

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 12:20 pm
  Kobe has always had his shot. He just uses it more now because he has lost a SMALL bit of explosivness/jumping ability. Lebron will never have a jumper like Kobe. Bron would have to break his shot down and rebuild it over and over again until e has that finesse down… but that is not one of his strengths. That’s why Kobe at age 24-26, when he would dunk, it looked like art. He got up high and used style. Bron does one thing, one hand pull back off one foot. He is to big and strong to have that finesse, Kobe and MJ and those guys have. Bron is raw, Kobe is polished. Bron does a layup and makes it look mean, Kobe makes it look sexy. Two totally different players. Bron will never be able to live and die with his jumper like Kobe.

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 12:21 pm
  Pan- You knowa lot about ball man, good points on everything.

• Brad Long Posted: Oct.16 at 12:22 pm
  One other thing, if Andrew Bynum played for almost any other team but the Lakers, he’d be getting a ridiculous amount of press right now for how he’s looked so far in training camp and the preseason. He’s avg. 22pts a game so far in 30 mins. a game. But I guess it’s more fun to talk about how Lamar Odom’s wifey looks like a linebacker and how long it’s gonna take Ron to locker room shank Kobe than actually recognize a young up and coming player on the Lakers who could legitimize himself as one of the top 2 centers in the game this year if he stays healthy, which of course is a HUGE if.

• Killa Kay Posted: Oct.16 at 12:23 pm
  we know slam loves this guy…so putting him at this position, was for the love of him….but I thought this was a no bullshit basketball mag…he may be good, but better than the likes of Bosh and dirk…u cant fool us….

• Brad Long Posted: Oct.16 at 12:26 pm
  James, it’s a contusion, which is basicly a bruise. He’s fine.

• James the balla Posted: Oct.16 at 12:28 pm
  Okay good. And man, Bynum looks great. He is actually in shape, unlike when he came back for the playoffs lol.
  Very excited man. Artest seems fine with getting his 7 points but playing GREAT D. Sasha looks “spiffy” with his hair doo.

• niQ Posted: Oct.16 at 12:47 pm
  I actually LOL’d at work reading Brad Long’s comment about Odom’s wifey.

• Anton Posted: Oct.16 at 12:54 pm
  7. Taylor Rain
  6. Lil Bow Wow
  5. Shaq’s reputation
  4. Lolcat
  3. That short guy in your school that has to over-compensate for the fact that over 80% of women don’t want to breed with shorties
  2. LeBron (regard for human life is optional)
  1. Sean Marks

• jumpman3224 Posted: Oct.16 at 12:54 pm
  would love to see Durant follow up his showing in the 8 spot with a cover in the near future.

• monkeyball Posted: Oct.16 at 1:02 pm
  Panagiotis: I don’t agree with your argument about why the US will always be superior. The point of freaks of nature is that they’re just that - freaks. You could have a freak anywhere. The reason the US produces more freak-of-nature basketball players is that kids are playing ball their entire lives. Poor kids, in particular, have the incentive to develop their freakishness into athletic excellence. It’s exactly the same reason why Brazil will always be a soccer superpower. All 2-year-olds in that country can kick a ball.

• Brad Long Posted: Oct.16 at 1:02 pm
  Sooo…when is that new cover coming out today? I hope it’s a multicover issue.

• The Seed Posted: Oct.16 at 1:08 pm
  Durant is a good player and I know this is for hi projection for next year, but Durant reminds me of Reggie Bush, how he had a break out seasons, but will fizzle later on. I feel like I am watching it with him and Durant does nothing else for his team, I watch his games and Green has to get a rebound and tip it to himself to get a shot, poor Harden will have to play point to get a shot. Durant wants attention bad and he will get it, but lets let this stick figure work on his game. I believe you can put Kevin Martin in his shoes on that scrub team and he would look better than Durant. The GREEK GUY is right KOBE is the man and it was funny watching Lebron and wade run from the ball and pratically give the ball to Kobe to bail them out. If Kobe was not there at the Championships, this would have happen, Wade or Lebron would have tried to drive to the basket and got a charge call or take a crazy shot with two defenders. Kobe is top 10 and with the championship this year. TOP 5, Lebron is not even above Vince Carter or Dominque Wilkins to me. This is who he should be compared too. Highlights are good, but we need some Rings- Prince. Kobe won’t get all of his propls until he retires and some of yall herbs watch his highlights. KB24 for MVP of the Finals. YES!!!

• Juice20 Posted: Oct.16 at 1:15 pm
  @ james the balla kobe still has the explosiveness the guy just has been playin non stop for like the past 3 seasons includin playoffs and team usa trust me he still jumpin out the buildin..nice spot for kevin durant

• NUPE Posted: Oct.16 at 1:31 pm
  It will be interesting to look at this list after the season and see if KD really deserves this spot or not. Right now because of his team, age and perceptions of his D, he is not getting full credit for what he brings. It would not surprise me at all if he leads the league in scoring (31 ppg) with 7 rebounds and 4 assist per night. I think in part because of the +/- article in true hoop he’s going to play much better defense this year taking it as a personal challenge. He could easily have top 5 stats and his team not make it to the plalyoffs. He’s not as established as a Dirk but I’d take him over Dirk at this point in time.

• Allenp Posted: Oct.16 at 1:43 pm
  The Seed
  Your hate of Lebron knows no bounds….Nique and Vince? Come on, you’re better than that.

• The Seed Posted: Oct.16 at 1:56 pm
  Allenp, maybe I streched it he is over Vince Carter, but Lebron plays like Nique to me, and I am not trying to be funny. Dunks and drive, can’t really shoot, very athletic for his size and will never win a ring as the best player. Its not hate, facts man.

• TADOne Posted: Oct.16 at 1:56 pm
  Well done Ben. KD may be too high right now but you make a great argument for his placement. And 21?! I thought KD was 22 already?? Regardless, this kid has pretty much unlimited potential. The only question everyone has is whether he has the drive and the proper work ethic to achieve greatness? He does seem to glide at times on the court and appear as if he isn’t going full tilt. However, the great one’s do make it look easy at times. My League Pass may be stuck on Thunder gaes this season.

• TADOne Posted: Oct.16 at 1:58 pm
  Is LeBron done playing already? How is what you said facts?

• monkeyball Posted: Oct.16 at 2:07 pm
  The Seed, Please go to NBA.com and compare Dominique’s stats in his first 6 season in the League to Lebron’s. Compare their playoff stats. There is no comparison. Those are facts. Your statements are opinions (not that there’s anything wrong with opinion, even when they’re wrong).

• Ben Osborne Posted: Oct.16 at 2:18 pm
  Thanks for all the comments. I actually expected more negativity. Either way, true commentary on this entire list—but even more so when discussing a 21-year-old entering his third season—should be reserved for April. If this guy leads the League in scoring, improves his other stats and helps the Thunder win 40 games and at least be in the Playoff hunt, 8 will seem low. As for those of you waiting for the next ish, I just posted it: http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/toc/2009/10/slam-133-on-sale-now/

• Niya-girl-fresh Posted: Oct.16 at 2:31 pm
  Yes, Kevin Durant is a “beast”. Just a few more kinks and additions to his game and dude is going to be a monster in the years to come. People are mad at him for saying “Everyone needs to stop worrying about stats” but he’s right, don’t him for the truth. But he’s a awsome player he showed that last season for sure. Good spot for him in my opinion.

• TADOne Posted: Oct.16 at 2:50 pm
  I remember All Star weekend last year when TNT decided to do a H-O-R-S-E competition and Durant was in it. While I was watching it with the wife, she kept asking me who the “skinny dude with the big feet and bright orange shoes making all the shots was”. Of course it was Durant and watching him make 30+ foot shots amazed me; not because of the distance on the shots, but because Durant made it seem so effortless.

• Allenp Posted: Oct.16 at 2:54 pm
  Seed
  Dude, Lebron has averaged 20, 5, and 5 since he stepped into the NBA. Nique never averaged 5 assists during his entire career. I mean, scoring and rebounds are similar, but it’s obvious that Lebron is pretty much a point forward/scorer while Nique was strictly a scorer for his career. Just watching the two cats play, you can see that their games aren’t really similar at all.
  You just really hate Lebron. Really.

• TADOne Posted: Oct.16 at 3:00 pm
  Allenp, i’m surprised you are even trying to discuss what he said rationally.

• Garett Posted: Oct.16 at 3:02 pm
  Hey Ben you just re-stated what I wrote yesterday concerning him and Dirk. If. If. If. Hope he does, b/c what’s wrong with having another legit superstar?
  Hook me up with a writing gig.

• The Seed Posted: Oct.16 at 3:22 pm
  Just playing Allenp, Lebron is a talent, just tired of all the media hype, new movie, and now slam even put the Big Stock Trader and LeJamie on the cover. Won’t be buying this, next month we want a Lakers cover, with Artest and Kobe guarding each other with Stephen Jackson in the background, saying his quote I am on the same level as Kobe. Durant is a beast and needs to improve his whole game, but his projection on a weak team garner him this spot. Also was Kevin Martin on this list can’t remember, but Kevin Martin is a beast too and if played anywhere else would be a star. Kevin Martin a real budding star.

• Allenp Posted: Oct.16 at 3:33 pm
  Seed
  Watching both cats play, Kevin Durant’s skill set is lightyears ahead of Kevin Martin’s, although I would argue that Martin has a better grasp of the nuances of the game. I really like Martin and think he’s a smart player, but he doesn’t have the handle or pure scoring ability of Durant.
  I can understand feeling like Lebron is overhyped, but it hurts your credibility when you say crazy stuff like your earlier statements. I’ve read some comments you’ve made that made a lot of sense, but whenever the issue of Lebron comes up, it’s like you just abandon logic and embrace hate.

• Bryan Posted: Oct.16 at 3:41 pm
  Allenp, you’re very right about durant I think he is the best pure scorer in the league right now.

• JD Posted: Oct.16 at 3:47 pm
  No disrespect to Baby Ice, but he’s about 10 or 20 places too high

• TADOne Posted: Oct.16 at 3:50 pm
  10 or 20 places too high?? JD, have you seen Durant play? And yes, i’m asking seriously.

• ab_40 Posted: Oct.16 at 3:54 pm
  the baby ice nickname is lame. he’s a great ofensive player I tell you that. he isn’t gonna average 30 because westbrook and green are gonna be gunning as well. he’s an even worse pick en roll defender then ilgauskas of the cavs. he can be a good defender but his scoring is gonna go down. and since that is what keeps fans in the stands it’s what he HAS to do. I don’t think he’s top 5 in the L. the thunder are…is? I don’t know what to do with those names hehe. but they’re gonna win between 25 and 30 games this year nothing more nothing lessand then maybe, maybe they take a step next year to a semi playoff team in the west. IN the east they would be a no.6 seed this year.

• albie1kenobi Posted: Oct.16 at 4:06 pm
  i would really like to watch Durant play, but i still can’t bring myself to watch that team. stupid clay bennett ruined everything.

• Lu Galasso Posted: Oct.16 at 4:12 pm
  Durant is my favourite player in the NBA. Quibble all you want, maybe #8 is too high, but does it really matter? If he doesn’t deserve #8 today, he will soon.

• EC Posted: Oct.16 at 4:43 pm
  Durant Makes scoring look easier than anyone ive seen and i mean anyone… just my opinion tho

• doyouwantmore Posted: Oct.16 at 5:10 pm
  Lebron is Dominique and Kevin is Micheal

• Twon Posted: Oct.16 at 5:57 pm
  Great spot for KD. hes a BEAST!!!

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 5:58 pm
  @Allenp……: you write “Y’all have athletes….” I made it clear(or so I thought), I ain’t talking about JUST athletes, I am talking about freaks of nature , the total athletic package to play your position. Tell me who is the one player outside U.S. that has/had Rose’s athetisism at P.G, Kobe’s/M.J’s at SG , Lebron/Pippen at SF, Garnett or Kemp at PF and SHAQ or Robinson at C,….? Maybe you don’t know as much international ball as I do but NOBODY ever came near to have that kind of athletisism. At the same time you need a big number of “freaks” to have serious chances that one of them will one day became ALSO complete player “bball-skill wise”(it is simply statistics). The only guys that came close to my definition of athletic freakiness in the last 20 years are Parker and Kirilenko (if you don’t believe me ask any guy you consider expert on Euro bball). But Kirilenko had to play the SF position to profit from his tools and his game never came close to this, while Tony doesn’t have great outside shooting neither great PG insticts (again: it is pure statistics, you need to “burn” many Hills , Miners, Carters,Riders to get an KOBE or MJ, we almost have nobody you got hundrends ).
  You also write that Lebron’s J improved. Even if it is true it just ain’t enough for “do or die” situation where you either make it from 6 metres coming out of 20 screens and with two defenders hanging on you or you get faulted and you MUST make BOTH freethrows.
  I didn’t understood the soccer situation you describe, explain and I will answer.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 5:58 pm
  @ The D train……: Yes and No. You are right on the energy part but MORE than this is the plain fact that when things (& especially defences ) became really complicated (BIG –NO TOMORROW games) you just CANNOT drive to the basket. Team U.S. have the luxury to have all it’s players relatively fresh ,the problem was not that Lebron and Wade were tired in last year’s final, it was simply that they knew that they are not “money” from 6 metres and not 85%+ from the line since there is a high propability you’re gonna get fouled.
  @James the balla…..: you write “….Bron would have to break his shot down and rebuild it over and over again until e has that finesse down… but that is not one of his strengths. That’s why Kobe at age 24-26, when he would dunk, it looked like art. He got up high and used style. Bron does one thing, one hand pull back off one foot. He is to big and strong to have that finesse, Kobe and MJ and those guys have……” I really hate that I’m gonna write this after your 12:21pm comment but after your above observations I say that either you’ve really played ball or you have coached in a good level. This was so simple and so accurate.
  @monkeyball……: you DO NOT develop freak of nature athletes just by playing ball all day long, Greece and Lithouania are the 2 propably most bball crazy nations in the world (having in mind the populations) we NEVER produced anybody NOT EVEN NEAReven near M.J’s Lebron’sKemp’s Miner’s Iverson’setc running/jumping/explodingability. N-O-B-O-D-Y. If you don’t get why this happens I cannot help you more from here.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 6:02 pm
  @The seed …..: I agree with what you say that would have happened if Kobe was not there(it happened in 2006 anyway)but I don’t agree with the Lebron-Dominique-Carter comment. Lebron was flour game that both of them (especially Nique) couldonly dream of.

• Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Oct.16 at 6:02 pm
  The Seed: Dominique Wilkins couldn’t shoot? Are you kidding me? He had one of the nicest midrange games in the league. He could get that ball in off any angle. What are you talking about?
  LeBron James has a good shooting touch too… But that’s beside the point. And comparing LeBron to Nique isn’t detracting from either one of the two, since they’re both great players…

• tealish Posted: Oct.16 at 6:03 pm
  Who knows, KD could go out and post 30ppg on a good % for a squad that is in playoff contention and I’d be dead wrong — but I doubt it.
  He has talent. Above everything else in his skillset, the fact that his stroke is already nice for a guy with his athleticism shows his incredibly high potential.
  But in this upcoming year, I just don’t seem him putting it all together just yet to justify being 8th best. He is still plenty, plenty raw.

• tealish Posted: Oct.16 at 6:04 pm
  And for what it’s worth, I do think in 3-4 years, he has the chance to be the best in the game. Ahead of LeBron.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 6:09 pm
  @all the kindergarden (tavoris,jukai,hursty,etc)…:my answer finally appeared to the shoe-seller “legendary” article….(go to …………………………………………………………………………………. now)

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.16 at 6:09 pm
  Good night to EVERYBODY!!!!!

• Pardeep Posted: Oct.16 at 7:12 pm
  He is going to be the best player in the league if he gains 10-15 pounds and that is still not going to make him weigh much. If KD bulks up in the next 3 years the league is his. This guy has that scoring gift that Mike and Kobe and Iverson had. Baby Ice is a beast.

• Niya-girl-fresh Posted: Oct.16 at 7:32 pm
  I think ESPN posed that question, can Kevin Durant be better than LeBron in the future. LeBron is considered a “Big Man” and most of the time “Big Men” with muscle tend to deteriorate in the long run, which poses a detriment to their abilities, especially those who are known basically for their power and strength and use that to best their opponents. I don’t think Kevin needs to gain that much weight, just enough to give him some kind of upper body strength and leg strength, but he still needs to keep his speed because alot of the smaller physique players in the long run are still able to obtain their quickness. So if he puts on a little more muscle in addition to picking up the missing pieces he needs to be a complete player, shoot the next several years, the league is his.

• don Posted: Oct.16 at 8:08 pm
  me starting to like those bright orange shoes of durant.

• 360vue Posted: Oct.16 at 9:19 pm
  @monkeyball, i think panigiotis’ comment about “freaks of nature” in the USA refers to the fact most of the animals used for food are jumped full of steroids and testosterone from the day they are born. combine this fact, which harbours physical growth, with the fact that many US ballers, like u said, do nothing but ball during their developing years, and so, they turn into freaks of nature in a technical sense aswell. add to that a relatively giant population (china’s got 1.6billion and ball is rising in popularity but still has a way to go before having player depth of a comparable calibre, india’s 1.3billion have barely heard of ballin), with the benefits of having the best league and supporting infrastructure you can pretty much guarantee american domination of basketball for at least a few more decades, team usa won’t win every tournament but theres no reason why even weakened squads won’t challenge in the final, barring horrendous coaching decisions (which would include creating a next to non-existant team chemistry, which is the primary reason a team of amassed superstars don’t always produce the results they can and should) @DAGOMAR - yes yes yes, truest words ive read on this page

• Jack Posted: Oct.16 at 9:40 pm
  All I know is, that Duncan HAS to be next. Then Dwight.

• bobevans Posted: Oct.16 at 10:21 pm
  It’s really easy to forget how dominant T-Mac was in his prime during that time in Orlando. From 2002 to 2004, he was virtually unguardable…almost supernatural on the court. His game, especially during those stretches when he was putting up strings of 35-7-5-3-2 games, was almost baffling to watch, because he didn’t really seem to be TRYING all that hard. He was also an outstanding athlete, easily matching present-day Durant…comparable to Josh Smith/J.R. Smith. I mean, dude was an animal out there. Dropping 40 points was NOTHING for him. All that being said, Durant is already a superior long-distance shooter. Because of his solid supporting cast, he should have the time to step away from scoring so much and develop defensively. If he does that, and can avoid injury, he will likely eclipse T-Mac.

• Tariq Posted: Oct.16 at 10:22 pm
  Yeah, I mean… I guess this could be a breakout year for KD. Of course by “breakout” I mean make the leap from budding star into elite status (He’s already a star). I will say this: When SLAM did that Top 50 a few months ago, aside from Wade, this is the one guy I thought could crack that list someday.

• MR Posted: Oct.17 at 12:56 am
  @panagiotis - ur logic makes no sense. the reason why america produces so many basketball players is because kids all over america plays basketball. this is also the reason why canada produces the best hockey players - because every kid here follows and plays this sport religiously and they play it competitively at a very high level from a very young age. I mean think bout it canada has a population of 32 million where as the US has a population of 400 million and europe has a population of around 500 million, yet we produce almost half the players in the NHL. the same thing works for basketball, baseball, soccer. How many american soccer players are there huh? not a lot and i don’t think any of them would be considered among the greatest. mj, kobe, lebron they grew up playing basketball and from a very young age they started playing it competitively at a very high level. that’s why they are so good. europe canada asia does not have these kind of facilities and that’s why it takes so long for a european to develop and get accustomed to life in the nba.

• Todd Spehr Posted: Oct.17 at 2:50 am
  I was extremely fortunate while I worked for Aussie-based Handle Magazine that I was able to be in OKC this past January for six-or-so games while doing a piece on Durant. We spoke three times and all I’ll say is this: For a great a player that he is, he’s a better person. 12 months from now we’ll be thinking #8 is an injustice.

• tmac bandril Posted: Oct.17 at 3:20 am
  wouldn’t kevin “the asassin” be fitting for him?

• Hursty Posted: Oct.17 at 4:24 am
  ^no.

• Joe_king Posted: Oct.17 at 5:44 am
  Any new rooks on list?

• James the Balla Posted: Oct.17 at 5:46 am
  Thanks Pan. I have coached alot.

• PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS Posted: Oct.17 at 7:44 am
  @James…..:that’s how it is,the basic of shooting mechanics don’t get learned from scratch at age 25…M.J and Kobe had perfect style by the age of 20…only videogamers can really hope for guys to develop them at age 25…. (dear Jukai, you’re gonna wait A LOT for Howard to develop anything close to Pau’s offensive game. Pau was playing SMALL FORWARD in the Paul Pierce mode, in the Euroleague for Barcelona at age 19 !!!)

• MR Posted: Oct.17 at 12:27 pm
  @panagiotis - why would howard need gasol type skills? lol - he is a dominant big man and all he needs is power. he is the shaq prototype - they don’t need finesse. what they use is power.

• BIRDMAN JR Posted: Oct.18 at 5:10 am
  All this bs bout kobe’s game looking sexy and bron’s looking mean is straight BullS**T. Who cares whether kobe’s game is sexy and bron is not , this is a pro game not some beauty pageant, I rather have a player who attacks the d on every play, either by passing, rebounding and driving . It is becoming a shame to see greatness like lebron being hated on. Stop watching SC top 10 plays and watch the actual game.

• 宇文轩 Posted: Oct.18 at 5:43 am
  KD has been given so much expected….

• EC Posted: Oct.18 at 7:14 am
  Pau with Kobe “Hes the best big man in the league”…. every year before last year …… Pau without kobe*** “crickets” ***…

• Jay-G Posted: Oct.24 at 11:47 am
  A top 10 players on a team that won’t win 30 games. Does that makes sense to anybody?

• Da Hood Posted: Oct.25 at 9:39 pm
  IDK, if I disagree here, the boy is tough and only gonna get betta.

• Ace Posted: Nov.18 at 12:06 am
  Durant ahead of BROY?
  Portland is such a small market he never gets seen a lot, the same can be said for Durant. However, BRoy MAKES people notice him. And not by flashy play and sky high dunks, but by flawless play, a sick jumper, and showing up when it counts.