Many fans and analysts make bold draft comparisons for their favorite NBA prospects. They might have hot takes like, “This player can be the next LeBron James.” Quite often, these statements do not turn out to be correct due to lofty expectations. Interestingly, one former NBA veteran has now urged everyone to stop comparing draft prospects to one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history- Kevin Durant.
Austin Rivers Says Too Many Prospects Get Drafted Because of the Kevin Durant Comparisons
11-year veteran Austin Rivers did not hold back when expressing his frustrations with people comparing prospects to a future Hall of Famer.
“The number of players Kevin Durant has gotten drafted is comedy because everyone is looking for the next version of him. Everyone saw this 6’10” guy come in the NBA and shoot, dribble, pass, and score be like ‘we want that.’ Now the whole f*****g league is a bunch of wings who can’t do s**t,” exclaimed Rivers.
Any team would certainly be elated to have a 15-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and two-time Champion. Durant also led the league in points per game four times, and he ranks eighth on the NBA all-time scoring list at 31,308 points. His all-around skillset at 6’11” makes him one of the most versatile and lethal offensive options in NBA history. As a result, Rivers wants fans and other analysts to realize that Durant is a “1-of-1” athlete.
“KD [Durant] has gotten 100,000 guys drafted because people thought in their delusional minds they were getting another KD. He’s a 1-of-1 type of player,” said the ESPN analyst.
Rivers claims that too many NBA teams look at prospects’ body type and skillset and immediately think of Durant. The second pick in the 2007 NBA Draft has few weaknesses in his game. However, as a general rule, most rookies struggle when they first enter the league. This comparison puts immediate and unnecessary pressure on a young adult adjusting to the NBA.
Ace Bailey Garnered Durant Comparisons Last Summer
Ace Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in one season at Rutgers University. The Utah Jazz took him with the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Coming into college and the draft, outlets compared Bailey to Durant.
For example, one user on the “NBA_Draft” Reddit said the 19-year-old wing is “the closest thing we’ve seen to a Kevin Durant level prospect.” This supports Rivers’ point about seeing a 6’10, three-level scorer who can put the ball on the floor.
Bailey showed some impressive offensive flashes, but he shoots 43.8% from the field and averages 10.4 points as a rookie. Durant scored 20.3 points per game when he won the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year.
