For more than a decade now, DNA of Sports has been offering you its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”. This week, place to the evocation of the case Kevin Durantwhose latest performances with Brooklyn hardly go unnoticed.
On a series of nine wins in a row, having earned them a podium finish in the Eastern Conference, the Nets are indeed the most in-form team in the league today. A rise in power to obviously put to the credit of “KD”, ideally supported by Kyrie Irving and perfect leader of the New York collective.
Sportingly flawless since the start of this season, Kevin Durant stands today as one of the legitimate contenders for the title of MVP 2023.
Collectively, his record (22-12) is substantially identical to those of Jayson Tatum (24-10), Giannis Antetokounmpo (22-11) or Nikola Jokic (21-11). Statistically, he has nothing to envy to his rivals, with 30.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks on average. Visually, this feeling of power that he exudes offensively, and in particular at mid-distance (57% success rate with 7 attempts per encounter), is delicious to observe.
To put it simply, the Brooklyn winger is therefore part of this class of attackers for whom no shot can be considered bad and, at the age of 34, he plays perhaps the best basketball of his career, on both sides. parquet. Or, in any case, the most effective.
Diabolical and Address History
The proof is, sure of his strengths and master of his game, Kevin Durant displays no more and no less than success percentages of 56% in shots (career record), 37% at 3-pts and 93% in throws (record in career). Given his grip on the game of the Nets (32% of the franchise’s attacks are concluded by “KD”), he certainly loses not far from 4 balls per gameBest shooting success percentages, during a season at 30+ average points
57.7% – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970/71)
57.4% – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971/72)
57.0% – Adrian Dantley (1981/82)
56.3% – Kevin Durant (in progress)
56.2% – Karl Malone (1989/90)
In terms of advanced statistics, what Kevin Durant has offered so far is also impressive. Illustration when looking at his effective field goal percentage (eFG%) and, above all, on its true shooting percentage (TS%).
With 61% eFG%, “KD” is thus gone on bases “Curry-esques”, since only Stephen Curry has already averaged at least 30 points, while possessing a effective field goal percentage at least 60%. And, as for his true shooting percentagewhich stands at 67%, even the Warriors point guard has never reached that mark in the past…
Best eFG%, in a 30+ point average season
63.0% -Stephen Curry (2015/16)
62.5% – Stephen Curry (in progress)
61.0% – Kevin Durant (in progress)
60.5% -Stephen Curry (2020/21)
Best TS%, in a 30+ point average season
67.3% – Kevin Durant (in progress)
66.9% -Stephen Curry (2015/16)
66.8% – Stephen Curry (in progress)
65.5% -Stephen Curry (2020/21)
65.2% – Adrian Dantley (1983/84)
Suffice to say that Kevin Durant is in the running to achieve one of the best seasons in history in terms of efficiency, while, unlike a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or a Karl Malone, or even an Adrian Dantley in his time, his game doesn’t lean exclusively inward, as he attempts almost 5 3-point shots per game.
But, like a Stephen Curry (if not better than him), his quality of shooting and his ability to access his preferred positions, regardless of the type of defense against him, allow “KD” not to waste very little offensive ammunition. Especially since his profile makes him a player who is difficult to defend, given his size, his mobility and his skill with the ball.
No coincidence, moreover, that he is still considered by some to be the best striker in history, when he has just joined Top 15 most prolific scorers of all time…
Race to the MVP 2023: our Top 5
1 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 24 wins, 10 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 32 disputed out of 34 possible.
Statistics: 30.9 pts, 8.1 reb, 4.1 pds, 1.2 int, 0.9 ctr and 2.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 48% shooting, 36% 3-point and 86% throwing.
2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 22 wins, 11 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 28 contested out of 33 possible.
Statistics: 31.2 pts, 11.2 reb, 5.1 pds, 0.9 int, 0.9 ctr and 3.8 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 54% shooting, 25% 3-pt and 64% throwing.
3 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 21 wins, 11 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 29 disputed out of 32 possible.
Statistics: 25.4 pts, 11.0 reb, 9.4 pds, 1.5 int, 0.7 ctr and 3.6 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 62% on shots, 34% at 3-pts and 79% on throws.
4 – Kevin Durant (Nets)
Assessment: 22 wins, 12 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 33 disputed out of 34 possible.
Statistics: 30.0 pts, 6.6 reb, 5.3 pds, 0.8 int, 1.5 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 36 min.
Percentages: 56% on shots, 37% at 3-pts and 93% on throws.
5 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Assessment: 18 wins, 16 losses – 7th in the West.
Matches: 31 disputed out of 34 possible.
Statistics: 32.8 pts, 8.3 reb, 8.7 pds, 1.7 int, 0.5 ctr and 3.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 50% shooting, 36% 3-pt and 74% throwing.
Mentions : Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Joel Embiid (Sixers), Devin Booker (Suns), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Damian Lillard (Blazers), Domantas Sabonis (Kings)…
Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) : equation allowing to calculate the global address of a player, or a team, taking into account the fact that a 3-point shot earns 1.5 times more points than a 2-point shot. The calculation formula is as follows: eFG% = ([tirs réussis + 0.5 * tirs à 3-points réussis] / shots attempted) * 100.
True shooting percentage (TS%): as’effective field goal percentage, this equation makes it possible to calculate the global address of a player, or of a team, this time taking into consideration the free throws. The calculation formula is as follows: TS% = (points scored / 2 * [tirs tentés + 0.44 * {lancers-francs tentés}]) * 100.
