Image via Complex Original
Silky smooth shooter, lethal scorer, and damn-near unstoppable are just a few of the descriptions that come to mind when describing the three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant. Scoring comes easy for a player of Durant's caliber. Standing at 6'9" with a jumper that is close to impossible to block, Durant has established himself as the best scorer in the NBA and his super star status is still rising.
The Durantula carried the Oklahoma City Thunder (with the help of Westbrook, of course) to the Finals last season and they're once again contenders going into the 2012-13 season. Durant's been building his badass catalog with buzzer beaters, ridiculous dunks, and unconscious scoring performances like when he dropped 66 at the Rucker. So, we're celebrating his 24th birthday a day early with a look at Kevin Durant's Most Badass Moments.
20. Ongoing Feud With Lil B
Date: 2011-Present
The streets have been waiting for this matchup for a minute now. KD said on Twitter that he couldn't believe Lil B was relevant and since then the Based God hasn't been able to let that go. He's been baiting Durant into playing a 1-on-1 going on two years now. The Pretty Bitch recently released the video above entitled "Warm Ups" and included a paragraph at the end calling out KD. The Durantula hit him on Twitter and told him to shut up, but deleted the tweet. Is KD scared of Lil B? He needs to pray the Based God doesn't make it to the L. We kid. They should put their game on Pay-Per-View like when Hakeem and Shaq were going to play though.
19. Ethers Skip Bayless
Date: 9/11/2012
Skip Bayless and KD have been going at it for a while now. Last season, Skip tried to tell Durant to get on Russell Westbrook about taking so many shots to which KD replied: "That guy doesn't know a thing about basketball." So, a couple weeks ago news came out that Durant and LeBron James worked out together during the off-season and Skip didn't like that idea one bit. He got Twitter and said: "Wake up, KD, LeBron is keeping his friends close and his enemies closer. You're letting him OWN you." KD fired back with and later deleted): "@RealSkipBayless u brainwashing these people out here, they think since you on espn you know what u talkin bout…please, nobody owns me." Can you say, "burn?"
18. Sneaker Deal
Date: 2007-Present
KD has one of the best signature sneaker lines to ever come out. Nike likes to get creative with the KD Zoom series with different colorways dropping every other day it seems. Which do you prefer? The Creamsicle II's? The Weatherman IVs? How about the Gold Medal IVs? Take your pick.
17. Drops 38 on Lithuania
Date: 9/11/2010
During the 2010 FIBA World Championships, Durant just couldn't be stopped. The Lithuanians tried everything: single coverage, double teams, he beat them all. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and he still put up a U.S. record of 38 points. We bet they're still having nightmares about KD over there in Lithuania. He also put up 30 in the 2012 Gold Medal Game vs. Spain in London. More on that in a bit.
16. Shits on Brendan Haywood
Date: 5/19/2011
Brendan Haywood is just one of many centers to get dunked on by KD. This dunk was just nasty mainly because Durant didn't even see Haywood on his way to the basket and Haywood just stood there and took it in the face.
15. Buzzer Beater vs. Knicks
Date: 1/22/2011
Everybody in the building knew who it was going to. Shit, Danilo Gallinari was all over him and the Durnatula still made the shot. KD has that uncanny ability to get buckets when the game is on the line. He's unguardable.
14. Scores a Career-High 51 Points vs. the Nuggets
Date: 2/19/2012
OKC made history on this night. Not only did Durant drop a career-high 51 points, but Westbrook added 40 and Ibaka had a triple-double. That's the first time something like that has happened. The Thunder beat the Nuggets 124-118 in OT.
13. His Post-Game Backpack
Date: 2011-Present
Kevin started rocking the backpack to post-game pressers after a Game 4 loss to Denver during the First Round of the 2011 Playoffs. After much speculation, he revealed the mysterious contents after a Game 5 win vs. the Grizzlies during the Second Round of those same playoffs. He said that he kept his Bible, iPad, phone charger and headphones in there. It turned out to be good luck as the Thunder went all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2011 and to the NBA Finals last season.
12. Calls Out Chris Bosh
Date: 1/30/2011
Just because he doesn't talk reckless like KG, doesn't mean he's a punk. Chris Bosh had to learn the hard way that Durant rides for his teammates and will shit on fake tough guys. Talk to 'em Kev.
11. NBA Finals Debut
Date: 6/12/2012
In his NBA Finals debut KD proved that he was ready for the big stage by dropping 36 points on the Heat to get the W for OKC. You couldn't stop this dude that night. Three pointers? Check. Fadeaways? Check. Drives to the cup? Check. In the words of Mark Jackson, "Momma, there goes that man."
10. Shows Love For His Fans
Date: 10/31/2011
On the basketball court or the gridiron, Durant is a beast. Yeah, it was a friendly pick-up game of flag football, but Durant got busy. With the way he was able to avoid the pass rush and throw that touchdown, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow might want to take notes or be ready to sign up for unemployment next time there's another NBA lockout. This is what's so great about KD, he's genuine and down to earth. How many pro athletes will do this type of thing?
9. His Working Relationship with Russell Westbrook
Date: 2008-present
Much has been written about their chemistry, or lack thereof. But, the fact remains, whatever their doing or not doing works. They've lead the Thunder to three straight playoff berths, reaching the Western Conference Finals each of the last two seasons, and the Finals last year. The clip above features one of many connections these two have made in what hopefully will be a long partnership. We've already considered them as one of the best duos in NBA history even though they don't necessarily compliment each other. Best believe Durant and Westbrook are coming for the throne next year.
8. Game Winner vs. Mavs
Date: 4/28/2012
This is how you close a game. With skinny jeans tight defense on him by Shawn Marion, Durant was still able to put in the game winner to seal the W for the Thunder. When you're one of the best finishers in the league, things like this tend to come naturally.
7. Demoralizes Roy Hibbert
Date: 4/6/2012
No words are said whenever this type of dunk happens. Just bitter beer faces all around due to the disgusting facial the room just witnessed. Roy Hibbert has no business getting dunked on like that. He should've been benched after that effort.
6. Shows His Passion For the Game
Date: 6/21/2012
After the Thunder's lost the Finals to Miami, KD started crying as soon as he saw his family. He cried in their arms and didn't care if the cameras were on him. This wasn't the first time he showed that kind of passion, though. The year before, after OKC lost the 2011 Western Conference Finals, he was asked if he was happy for Dirk to which Durant replied, "I'm not happy at all." You gotta love a guy that wears his heart on his sleeve.
5. Embarrasses JaVale McGee
Date: 4/25/2012
People think just because KD is skinny that it means he's soft. As we all know by now, that's not the case. No center is safe. JaVale McGee should be sent down to the D-League after getting smashed on like that.
4. Gold Medal Game Performance
Date: 8/12/2012
KD showed the world why the States refer to him as, "The Durantula." The god dropped 30 on the Gasol Bros. and Spain in a classic, with half of his points coming from beyond the arc. He also grabbed nine boards to help Team USA to a 107-100 victory. Durant showed off in his first Olympic appearance. USA basketball is in good hands.
3. Game Winner vs. Hawks in His Rookie Season
Date: 11/16/2007
KD wasted no time making his presence known. In just his tenth game in the L, Durant sent the Hawks home with this three from the top of the key. Al Horford was all over him too, straight up filthy. Sorry Sonics fans.
2. Hell Up in Harlem
Date: 8/1/2011
Very rarely do NBA players show up at the hallowed Rucker Park and put on a performance that'll make the crowd go into a frenzy. Well, KD did just that by dropping 66 points and hitting four straight 3s last summer. This moment will undoubtedly go down is streetball lore and be passed down from generation to generation. We still get chills whenever we see it.
1. Wins Three Straight Scoring Titles
Date: 2010-2012
For three consecutive seasons, Durant has lead all scorers. Last year he averaged 28 a game, in 2011 he put up 27.7 and in 2010 he scored 30.1 per game. He's the first player to win three straight scoring titles since Michael Jordan from 1996-1998 (not even Kobe can claim that) and he's done it primarily as a jump shooter. We can't wait until he finally develops a post game and when that happens it's curtains for the rest of the L.