Durant, who was supposed to "retire", is getting better and better

A little over a month ago, Durant celebrated his 36th birthday. And if you still remember, he admitted in an interview in 2018 that he would retire at the age of 35, and last season was supposed to be his "last dance".

Durant entered the league wearing No. 35, and of course wore No. 7 for a while in between. He himself chose to retire at the age of 35. The number 35 has a special meaning for Durant. Durant said: "Because my first coach was only 35 years old when he died, I will choose to retire at the age of 35 in memory of my mentor. ”

Six years ago, Durant may really be thinking about retiring at the age of 35. But six years is enough time to change a person's mind, and Durant, who is 36 years old this year, does not seem to have the slightest sign of retirement, but is getting better and better.

So far this season, Durant has played in all eight games of the Suns, averaging 39.1 minutes per game, averaging 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 55.1%, 42% and 81.3% from three.

Durant is now second in the league in playing time, and the first is Maxey, who was injured yesterday due to high loads. Of course, Maxey only played 7 games, and Durant played 8, so Durant is now the longest-playing man in the league.

Durant's free-throw shooting percentage is at a career-low low of just over 80 percent. Of course, as the game increases, Durant's free throw shooting percentage will return to around 85%.

Of course, these basic data are too routine for Durant and nothing new. What really proves that Durant is getting more and more fierce this season is his "death coming" again and again at critical moments.

According to statistics, the Suns have won all the last five games, but they have won all five games by single digits, with a total of only 21 points. In other words, the Suns have played critical moments in the last five games, and Durant has wielded his death sickle without exception.

Yesterday against the Heat, in the last three minutes, Durant scored 8 points in a row to kill the game. Whether it was playing Herro with his back or facing three consecutive Highsmiths, the Heat's defense had nothing to do with Durant, and Durant had already completed his shot before the package arrived.

In the previous game against the 76ers, Durant scored four consecutive points in the final minute, including a one-point comeback and a final layup. The Suns scored 24 points in the final quarter, and Durant scored 15 points and shot 6-of-8.

In the revenge battle against the Lakers, Durant scored 8 points in the final quarter; In the opening game against the Clippers, Durant made an unsolvable mid-range shot at the last moment, and there was a key 2+1 before that. Although Maxey is now ranked first in the final quarter scoring, from the perspective of his influence on the game, you can say that Durant is the king of the final quarter of this season, the god of key balls.

Here's one statistic: The top five players who have made jumpers in the last five seasons when defenders are within 4 feet are: Durant, DeRozan, Booker, Ingram and Tatum. And Durant is 907 times ahead of DeRozan, who is in second place.

As long as Durant is in the league for one day, he is the most accurate shooter in the league, and the memory of shooting has long been embedded in his mind and muscles. That's why Durant can appear to "ignore defense", which is definitely not only a factor of height.

During this time, Durant was on the line with the media again, and A-Smith questioned Durant's lack of leadership ability, ostensibly because Durant was swept for the first time in his career last season, or in the first round. The root is Durant's two championships with the Warriors.

As long as Durant doesn't win a championship outside of the Warriors, doubts about Durant's leadership will continue. Of course, everyone has their own definition of leadership, but in my case it's very simple, whether you can lead the team to win.

Durant was swept in the first round, and anyone can question him for not leading. But Durant has stepped up again and again in key moments this season to lead the team to victory, and this is the embodiment of leadership.

He's certainly not a perfect dressing room leader, but he's always led by example and spoke for himself on the pitch, and his actions speak louder than words. Just as we're glad that James is still in the league, we should be glad that Durant still has such a passion for basketball and is still willing to play nearly 40 minutes per game.

When Durant does retire, how long will the league have to wait for the next Durant? Perhaps, there will never be a player like Durant again.