Kevin Durant is one of the best scorers in NBA history. He can attack defenses from anywhere on the floor, whether he is pulling up from beyond the arc or breaking down his defender off the dribble.
However, superstars score in a variety of different ways, and Durant’s favorite player to watch in the league today is a dominant scorer inside the paint.
Kevin Durant Reveals Giannis Antetokounmpo is His Favorite Player to Watch
Durant was asked which of his peers he enjoys watching the most. With little hesitation, he mentioned Giannis Antetokounmpo, who joined the Miami Heat this summer in a blockbuster trade that shifted the Eastern Conference’s power balance.
“Greek Freak, probably the number one guy I like to watch … I like long athletic guys. That’s just who I am. Greek Freak, I think, is a force, and I’ve never seen anything like him. His ceiling, he could be the best player to ever play if he really wanted to. That’s pretty scary to think about, but he’s by far my favorite player to watch,” said Durant.
Kevin Durant says Giannis Antetokounmpo is his favorite player to watch in the NBA:
“Greek Freak probably the number 1 guy I like to watch. — Greek Freak I think is a force and I’ve never seen anything like him. His ceiling, he could be the best player to ever play if he really… pic.twitter.com/Ymsm8DBesg
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) August 5, 2026
Despite both superstar forwards being 6 feet 11, they play completely different styles of basketball. Durant relies on his knockdown perimeter jumper and smooth handle to break down defenders. He shoots 39.2% from deep on 5.1 attempts for his career.
The 16-time All-Star can get to his shot any time and shoot over smaller defenders due to his high shot release. He has averaged at least 26.0 points per contest in every campaign since 2017-18.
Antetokounmpo punishes defenses differently. He uses his blend of athleticism, speed, handle, and power to wreak havoc on opposing teams inside. The two-time MVP led the league in points in the past season at 18.7 points per game.
Zion Williamson remained over 3.0 points behind him in second. When Antetokounmpo drives down the lane, he looks to posterize his defenders if they are bold enough to stand in his way.
The 10-time All-Star scores 24.1 points for his career without shooting it well from the line or downtown. Antetokounmpo shoots the 3-ball at just a 28.5% clip for his career. Defenders know they can sag off him from beyond the arc, but this gives him the time and space to get a head of steam on his drives.
Most teams reference creating a “wall” with multiple players to keep Antetokounmpo out of the paint, but this tactic is much easier said than done.
Antetokounmpo’s prolonged success proves that not everyone needs to shoot it well from deep to score well. Durant appreciates this aspect of the Heat forward’s game.
