“I would take Kevin Durant over LeBron James”: Stephen A. Smith boldly claims he’d prefer to take the Nets superstar over the Lakers MVP on the offensive end of the floor

Stephen A. Smith says that he’d rather have Kevin Durant on his team instead of LeBron James when on the offensive end of the floor. 

The NBA has brought forth a bevy of superstars within this league that have shown that a basketball can be put through the basket in a variety of ways. Whether it was Julius Erving ‘rocking the baby’ and jamming it over a couple defenders or Kobe Bryant striking fear into the hearts of his opponents through his use of the pivot foot, offensive talent has grown as the league has evolved. 

Kevin Durant came into the NBA as a near 7-footer who could handle the ball like a 6’5 guard and shoot like one too. With it being nearly impossible to block a shot attempt from Durant (unless you’re Giannis Antetokounmpo) he’s able to get to his spot and raise up whenever he feels as though he can drain a jumper. 

LeBron James on the other hand, does not depend on finesse as much as KD when on the offensive end of the floor. He’s averaged 25+ points per game for 17 straight seasons and he’s done so through the use of brute force when driving to the rim. He’s developed a great fadeaway and gotten better at his shot from beyond the rim, but it’s his drives to the basket that generate most of his points.

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Stephen A. Smith would take Kevin Durant over LeBron James on the offensive end. 

Stephen A. Smith has been notoriously critical of LeBron James’s offensive talent when comparing him to other greats on that end of the floor. Last year he claimed Kevin Durant has a deeper arsenal of moves when compared to the ‘King’ and that his defense was comparable to him as well. 

He is still of the mindset that KD is more offensively gifted that James and tries to prove his case. “I think that Kevin Durant is one of the greatest talents this game has ever seen. But so is LeBron. LeBron has more rings, and has shown leadership. LeBron James can’t shoot like Kevin Durant and doesn’t have that kind of offensive firepower. If you’re asking me who I’d take offensively, it would be Kevin Durant.”

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“Because LeBron James shooting 73% from the free throw line isn’t cutting it. Even though he’s improved his perimeter shooting, he isn’t the same type of shooter Durant is. So yes, I would prefer Kevin Durant.” 

Debating on whether you’d like Kevin Durant or LeBron James on your team is equivalent to arguing on whether you’d like an Aston Martin or a Lamborghini. There’s no true answer as their both an incredible luxury to have on your squad. At the end of the day, it just depends on what your roster construction is like and who is more preferable on that roster.