It might be heading into peak winter season across the globe, but things are looking quite sunny in Brooklyn right now. For the first time since Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving joined forces, the Brooklyn Nets look stable across the board.
Advertisement
The team recorded an injury-free roster for the first time in over three years, just this week. And after a statement win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Eve, optimism is at an all-time high in Brooklyn.
The Nets even hold the best record in the league since they parted ways with Steve Nash. Under Jacque Vaughn, their resurgence has been quite spectacular and it would appear that all fears have at least temporarily been alleviated.
Also read: Find Out How Nets Big Men Kevin Durant and Nic Claxton Make the NBA’s Best Defensive Duo
A change clearly was much needed in Brooklyn. However, their most consistent factor through all that’s been going around, has been the MVP-level performance of their biggest star – Kevin Durant.
The former MVP is averaging 29.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game for the Nets. At his age 34 season, Durant is showing no signs of a decline and has spearheaded his team as well as anyone possibly could. And this has attracted MVP shouts in KDs direction for the season.
Amongst the believers of the ‘KD for MVP’ agenda is former Nets star, Paul Pierce.
Kevin Durant belongs in the MVP conversation according to Paul Pierce
The Truth was one of the best players in the NBA, particularly during his peak. While only a solitary ring and a single top 10 MVP voting finish featured along his career, his contributions to the game go well beyond.
Despite spending the majority of his career with the Celtics, Pierce also turned out for the Nets at the fag end of his career. And after analyzing the performances of his former team, the Truth seems to be vouching for KD as the league MVP this year.
“I think we are going to have to start putting KD in the MVP conversation. He is making up some ground” spoke Paul Pierce while in conversation with his former teammate Kevin Garnett.
While the initial conversations regarding league MVP status didn’t feature Durant, the time has come to elevate him into the debate. The Truth definitely seems to believe so. With the Nets breathing down the necks of the Bucks and the Celtics on top of the East, all MVP shouts for KD are pretty much validated.
How is the official NBA MVP ladder positioned as it stands?
The latest NBA MVP ladder puts Kevin Durant right in the conversation but just outside the podium. The Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo holds the top spot for now despite his recent loss to Durant’s Nets.
Another two-time MVP Nikola Jokic holds the second spot while Jayson Tatum occupies the third spot. That makes three Eastern conference stars in the top 4.
Durant clearly is right in the thick of it and the rankings hold the same view. A continued surge would propel Durant further up the rankings.
Approaching the business end of things for the season, barring injuries, it seems KD is here to fight with the two-time MVPs ahead of him, for his second shot at the silverware.
