How Warriors have seen Kevin Durant elevate his leadership with and without Stephen Curry
OAKLAND – Warriors forward Kevin Durant rarely has faced a defense that can stop him. The Warriors enter their first-round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, however, with Durant tackling a question that has more layers than whether he can score proficiently as he usually does.
With Warriors star Stephen Curry out for at least the first round of the NBA playoffs, is Durant ready to become the team’s definitive leader?
“What does being a leader mean?” Durant asked, rhetorical l y.
Moments later, Durant spoke to The Bay Area News Group about the apparently different interpretations surrounding that concept.
First, Durant offered a definition that the outside perception offers, which he dismissively called “fluff”and “fake hustle.”
“They think being a leader is doing the most interviews, being seen the most and coming out and saying ‘This is my team or this is my city,’” said Durant, who then referenced his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise (20072016). “I did that for eight years. It really didn’t do anything for me. It didn’t make me a better basketball player. It didn’t make me more aware on the basketball court. It didn’t make me a better leader. It just showed people that I wanted to be looked at as ‘the guy.’”
Durant then argued, “I’m a leader in the things that matter” before outlining his own def i ni t i on.
“I don’t really care about perception anymore when it comes to my game. I’m about showing my teammates what I can do, working every single day and trying to be the hardest worker when I step on the court,” Durant said. “That shows and means more than me coming out and saying, ‘I’m the leader.’”
Durant has been considered the Warriors “leader” for obvious reasons. He has averaged 26.4 points this season, while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from 3-point range. He also has averaged 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists. All of those numbers in Durant’s 11th NBA season reflects his usual production during other years in his prime.
“Kevin just has an innate feel for what needs to be done on the floor,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I think that’s one of the things that makes him so unique.”
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With Curry sidelined for at least the first round of the playoffs and the No. 2 seeded Warriors losing 10 of their last 17 games of the regular season, Durant could have even a heftier role. He will be expected to score as usual. He will assume more playmaking duties. And the Warriors hope Durant elevates his defense, which initially sparked “Defensive Player of the Year” buzz before the Warriors’team-wide inconsistent defense made that an afterthought.
“I come to play every single night. You know what you’re going to get out of me. I play as hard as I can,” Durant said after practice on Thursday to reporters. “I might not make every shot. But I go out there and try to be a great player and work like it every single day. That’s what I bring to the team.”
Nonetheless, those within the Warriors have also observed Durant bringing something differently this season. After Durant arrived here as a free agent in the 2016 offseason, the Warriors praised him for seamlessly blending his talents with his All-Star teammates (Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson) without disrupting team dynamics. This season, the Warriors have noticed Durant becoming more assertive with his leadership. The Warriors have seen that play out both before and after Curry suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee on March 23.