The 50 greatest players in NBA history, ranked by win shares
By Cal Durrett
Greatest NBA Player #21: Kevin Durant-161.93
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant’s success and longevity make him a unique player on this list. No other 6’10, long, thin-framed perimeter players crack the top 50 and with another strong season, he could shoot up the leaderboard. Entering the 2023–24 season, he ranks 21st in all-time win shares but could realistically jump up to 17th during his 16th season.
He could further cement himself as one of the best scorers in NBA history by reaching 28,000 points next season. This, after injury issues, has cost him more than 150 games since turning 30. Fortunately, at age 34, Durant is under contract for three more seasons and has proven he can still clearly play at a high level.
Offensively, his size and shooting ability should allow him to put up big scoring numbers with terrific efficiency. Thus far in his career, Durant has boasted an outrageous career .619 true shooting percentage, which is the second highest of any player on this list. He is also a good defender who uses his length, height, and mobility to cover ground and challenge shots.
With more than 6,000 defensive rebounds, 1000 blocks, and 1000 steals, Durant rates surprisingly well for a player known for his offensive prowess. Ultimately, if he is able to play at this level on both ends of the floor at this rate, then he could get as high as 13th in win shares.