Damian Lillard picks Kevin Durant as the NBA’s best player in 2023.
- Trail Blazers star says Durant is “neck and neck” with LeBron James
- A healthy Kevin Durant could be in the MVP conversation in 2024
- Phoenix Suns are championship or bust with brand new superteam
Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is one of the best point guards in the entire NBA, but even he had to concede that there are players out there better than him. Speaking to longtime radio host Dan Patrick, Lillard was asked to make his pick for the league’s best player and his answer may surprise you.
“I’m showing up with Kevin Durant,” Lillard said when asked to pick the ultimate 2v2 partner. “I think that’s pretty easy… when healthy, I think him and LeBron are right there. I think KD healthy could very well be the best player in the NBA.”
Damian Lillard on who he’ll pick to be his 2 on 2 partner 🤫
“Anybody? I’m showing up with Kevin Durant… think that’s pretty easy “ 🤷🏽
“Healthy KD is the best player in the game “ pic.twitter.com/AIX3K8kkoG
— 𝟑𝟓 ✰ (@Hatedzs) September 12, 2023
If you ask most fans.experts today, they’ll tel you the best player is either the reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic or 7x All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are both in the prime of their careers. Instead, Lillard picked Kevin Durant — who not only turns 35 later this month, but who also hasn’t won a title since his 2018 run with the Warriors.
To say it’s a controversial choice would be an understatement in this case, but Lillard knows more than most what about it takes to be the best and he has plenty of first-hand experience going face-to-face vs Durant and his teams.
Durant Is Still Going Strong After 15 Years
As much praise as LeBron James gets for his unprecedented longevity, Kevin Durant isn’t too far behind. Last season, with the Suns and Nets, Durant had one of his best seasons yet with averages of 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game on 56% shooting.
After his trade to the Suns in February, Durant didn’t skip a beat and was able to go undefeated with them heading into the playoffs. Sadly, the Suns’ run would be cut short by the Denver Nuggets, who handled Phoenix in six games en route to winning the championship. Against Denver, Durant was giving the competition some real problems as he dropped 29.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists on their heads over six games
Heading into next season, the expectation is that Durant will pick up where he left off, but the Suns may not need the same production from him moving after their series of offseason moves.
The Suns Are Early Favorites For The 2023 NBA Championship
While Phoenix was unable to complete the mission in 2023, they will come back even stronger for the new season in October. This summer, the team added even more depth and talent with the acquisitions of Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, and Yuta Watanabe. Plug those players alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton, and you’ve got the recipe for success in the NBA.
At this point, the only concerns for the Suns are about health. With an extensive history of injuries, Kevin Durant has struggled to stay on the court in the past and the Suns will need him to be healthy if they want any chance of making a meaningful playoff run.
If Durant does end up turning in a healthy season, it could be all he needs to cement himself as the best in the game, which is a title he’s been after since winning the MVP in 2014.
