Kevin Durant is one of the best NBA players of all time.
The 37-year-old is in his first season playing with the Houston Rockets, and is currently averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest while shooting 51.4% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range in 40 games.
Durant had been coming off disappointing tenures with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.
NBA Legend Charles Barkley Rips Houston Rockets Star Kevin Durant
Recently, Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke about Durant’s run with the Nets and Suns (via Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz).
Barkley: “Every basketball person knows this… You don’t go to New York and play for the Nets, you go to New York to play for the damn Knicks… He went to the Nets. That’s the first strike… Now, he goes to Houston and my Phoenix Suns got a better record without him. That’s a damning indictment.”
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Barkley is right that the Suns are a much better team this year (without Durant and Bradley Beal).
They are currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a 27-17 record in 44 games.
Last season, Durant and the Suns missed the 2025 NBA playoffs.
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While the Suns have been strong, the Rockets are also one of the best teams in the NBA (with Durant).
They are currently the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 26-16 record in 42 games.
Via Real App: “Kevin Durant tonight: 36 PTS 7 REB 3 AST 5 3PM 76.1% TS”
Kevin Durant tonight:
36 PTS
7 REB
3 AST
5 3PM
76.1% TS pic.twitter.com/dZZmpOSEYB— Real App (@realapp) January 23, 2026
Durant was the second pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after one season of college basketball.
The two-time NBA Champion has also spent time with the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder.
As for Barkley, he is one of the most notable players in all of NBA history.
He played 16 seasons for the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers.
The 1993 MVP had career averages of 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per contest while shooting 54.1% from the field and 26.6% from three-point range in 1,073 games.
