The sports community was worried about Kevin Durantās ability to come back from an Achilles injury at his age. However, 15 games into the NBA season, it seems like the Brooklyn Netsāgamble paid off just fine.
Durant missed one year and a half of professional basketball nursing his injury. He couldāve come back during the bubble in Orlando for the playoffs but didnāt want to rush his way back to the court and it was the right call.
Thus far, it seems like he just hasnāt missed a beat. Heās as fast, savvy, crafty, and dominant as heās ever been. In fact, some may argue that heās playing the best basketball of his career at age 32.
Kevin Durant Tied Wilt Chamberlainās Incredible Record
Durantās start of the season with the Brooklyn Nets has been nearly unmatched. As a matter of fact, heās the only player besides Wilt Chamberlain to ever average 30+ points during his first 15 games with a new team. That hadnāt been done since the 1959-60 season, according to ESPN.
Durant Is Posting Nearly-Identical Numbers To His MVP Season
To make things more impressive, Kevin Durant is actually posting nearly the same numbers he did during his MVP campaign in 2013-14. Thus far, heās averaging 30.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 2.9 three-pointers per game on 51/44/86 splits.
7 years ago, Durant averaged a league-high 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.4 three-pointers per game on 50/39/87. More importantly, heās averaging 36.5 minutes per game despite coming back from an injury.
The Brooklyn Nets still have to figure out things in the defensive end but thereās no doubt regarding whoās the best player and leader of the team, as well as who should take the final shot every single night.
