Season in Review: Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant started the ’15-’16 NBA season off on the right foot. Literally.

More than half a year after his third major right foot surgery, Durant made it clear he wasn’t going to spend the season lamenting last year’s missed opportunities or speculating about his health this year.

“I told myself I’m not gonna answer that anymore,” he told reporters who asked how he was feeling after a preseason game last October.

While the rest of the world wondered if Durant had suffered a career setback, he was already over it. He was mentally preparing to make it to the Western Conference Finals. He was physically prepping for the feat, and he had no time for speculations.

It’s a mindset Durant has maintained about another hot topic this postseason—his free agency. The earliest possible day we could hear anything about his decision is July 1.

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) looks on between plays against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

As the previous NBA MVP keeps quiet about his options, Thunder fans stir. We sit anxiously awaiting, putting our faith in Sam Presti and his youthful wisdom. Because, the thing is, losing Durant would hurt.

It’s true that this season wasn’t his best. He didn’t blow his stats out of the water. He didn’t earn career highs. He didn’t slip that elusive championship ring onto his finger that’s probably the size of my wrist.

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But, he still had a season worthy of Kevin Durant. He was a leader, he was tenacious, and he ripped the western teams to shreds as he clawed his way to the conference finals.

When Durant was off, the entire team suffered. In the playoffs, there were nights when his shooting percentage was just…not Durant. There were nights when he had far too many turnovers. Take, for example Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Of the 15 times OKC gave the ball to Golden State via turnovers, Durant alone was responsible for eight of them.

The team fell to the Warriors that night. A night, incidentally, when Ibaka was 1-for-6, Westbrook was 5-for-14, and Durant was 11-for-18.

His turnovers and low shooting percentages in the postseason–most notably in the Warriors series—had spectators revisiting the “Mr. Unreliable” narrative in the back of their heads. He was 10-for-31 in the pivotal Game 6. He was 1-for-8 in three point attempts, and even missed two free throws.

Feb 29, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

By the end of the regular season, Durant tallied 250 turnovers. It’s enough to put him in the top 10 turnover offenders for the year, but it’s still not as bad as James Harden (374) or even teammate Russell Westbrook (342).

Thankfully, those un-Durant-like games were few and far between. The ’15-’16 season was one of redemption. After playing only 27 games last year, Durant played 72 this regular season. He ended with a .505 field goal percentage, which is in the top three for his career. His free throw percentage remained consistent at .898, and he earned the third highest amount of assists in his career—361. 69 steals and 85 blocks later, and Durant sits pretty on a successful season.

He ended the regular season with averages of 28.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Those stats make him the only player in the last 27 years to average better than 28 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a season. Guess who the last player to accomplish that feat was? Michael Jordan, in ’88-’89.

Durant also matches legend Michael Jordan at his own game by scoring 20 points or more for 64 straight games. That makes the most consecutive 20+ games since Jordan in ’90.

It was a season that earned Durant a spot on the All-NBA second team. It was a season that even gained him a spot in the top five MVP considerations.

Of course, now there’s the free agency talk. The rumor mill is filled with potential teams who would like to steal Durant from the Thunder. Then again, who wouldn’t? The latest team to hit the radar is the Miami Heat.

But, Oklahoma City hasn’t given up. In fact, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has actually promised Durant a position in her administration if he stays in Oklahoma City.

“If he’ll stay, I’ll make him a Cabinet person for health and fitness on my Cabinet,” she said.

As every NBA fan waits patiently (and Thunder fans wait impatiently) for news of Durant’s decision, he remains busy making his mark in other avenues. Last week, Durant visited the White House to support the My Brother’s Keeper mentors initiative, which is designed to help reduce chronic student absences in America.

Even though he didn’t win the NBA Cares Community Assist Award he was in the running for this year, Durant continues to prove he has a heart for giving back. He is charitable, talented, humble, and relentless.

He is Oklahoma. And ring or not, he is a champion here.

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