Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is the most skilled scorer in basketball history relative to his physical dimensions. At 6'10" with a 7'5" wingspan, he can shoot over any defender in the league from any spot on the floor. His jump shot is mechanically perfect — a high, quick release from an elevation that makes it essentially unblockable. Durant can score from the post, from the mid-range, from three, off the dribble, in transition, and in isolation. He has no offensive weakness, and the combination of his height and skill makes him the most difficult single cover in basketball.

Durant's two championships with the Warriors (2017-2018) and consecutive Finals MVPs demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest level in the most pressurized environment. His pull-up three over LeBron James to seal Game 3 of the 2017 Finals is one of the most iconic shots in modern basketball. When healthy, Durant has consistently been one of the two or three best players on Earth for over a decade.

The knock on Durant's legacy is the decision to join a 73-win Warriors team — a move that many viewed as ring-chasing rather than ring-earning. That criticism has merit, but it should not obscure the fundamental reality of Durant's talent. He is a four-time scoring champion, a 13-time All-Star, and the most effortlessly gifted offensive player since Michael Jordan.