Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 5 stunner vs. Clippers

3. KD continues to make his case as the best in the world

For the first time in what seems like forever, the title of the best player in the NBA world seems up for grabs. LeBron James appeared vulnerable with his first major injury this past season, and he failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since his sophomore season.

This has led to a furious search by NBA fans and media alike to crown a new best of the best. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a fan favorite as a breakout MVP candidate on the league’s surprisingly best team. James Harden‘s restructuring of the record books has gotten himself some love in that debate as well.

Then there’s Kevin Durant, who, aside from his year-round greatness, has averaged 38.7 points per game with a shooting line of .571/.393/.962 over the last three games of this first round series. This, along with 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, and yet there isn’t so much as a peep for his campaign as the No. 1 guy across the NBA.

KD was supposedly No. 2 in the race behind James for so long, and he’s done nothing in that time to take himself off that spot. If anything, his back-to-back Finals MVPs should count for something despite what the majority may say about the legitimacy of those championships.

There comes a point in every great player’s career where the general public becomes numb to his greatness and instead chooses to focus on the shiny new toy bursting onto the scene. Durant’s still here. He’s still balling out with an array of skills never seen before, and it seems ridiculous that his all-time great level of play continues to be pushed under the rug when it should be front and center.