“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please”- ESPN’s Mike Greenberg dismisses the notion of Kevin Durant’s decline originally appeared on Basketball Network.
News of Kevin Durant‘s impending trade out of Phoenix has recently dominated the NBA rumor mill. Multiple teams, including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat, are interested in acquiring the services of the two-time Finals MVP. Even though the New York Knicks make sense for Durant, the 2025 Eastern Conference finalists reportedly wanted no part of the Slim Reaper for unknown reasons.
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If doubts about his age and decline are driving the conversation, Mike Greenberg isn’t having it. In a two-minute segment on “Get Up,” the ESPN analyst made it clear that KD is far from finished, sprinkling in a few quotes from Mark Twain to drive the point home.
“So, you don’t think Kevin Durant is the player he used to be? Well, guess what? You are dead wrong,” Greenberg said.”To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of KD’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
Bucking the trend
Greenberg armed his argument with stats because, as the adage goes, the numbers don’t lie.
He mentioned Durant’s remarkable active streak: KD has averaged over 25 points while shooting at least 50 percent from the floor and 40 percent from deep in three straight seasons. Steph Curry never did that, nor did Ray Allen, Chris Mullin, Larry Bird or any other shooter and scorer in the history of the Association. Durant had a shot at making it five consecutive years, but he “only” connected on 38.3 percent of his rainbow attempts in 2021-22.
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Going against conventional wisdom, Durant is playing better basketball statistically post-Achilles injury than in his Golden State years. He played 208 regular-season games for the Warriors, averaging nearly 26, seven, and five on 52/38/88 shooting splits. After rupturing his Achilles tendon, Durant somehow bucked the trend, averaging 27.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on insane efficiency (53/42/88 shooting splits).
Defensively, Easy Money Sniper has also been making a quiet impact. KD has 119 steals and 168 blocks, which are 17th and 12th, respectively, over the past two years (not as high as the renowned analyst claimed). Moreover, Greenberg mentions Durant’s underrated ability to alter opponents’ shots defensively.
“There were 209 players who last year were the closest defenders on at least 500 shots. KD’s field goal allowance is ninth among those… He’s literally doing everything on the floor… There are teams like the Knicks who reportedly think they are better off without this guy? To quote Mark Twain again: ‘Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please,” the 57-year-old host concluded.
Proceed with caution
Countless calls involving Durant are probably being exchanged across the league, with growing expectations that a deal will come together soon. However, it would be unwise for the frontrunners like Houston and San Antonio to go all in for the 2014 MVP, despite how good he’s been playing on both ends.
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For the Rockets, the price could be steep. Packaging Jalen Green with another young piece like Jabari Smith Jr. might get them Durant, but it would come at the cost of a developing core that placed second in a loaded Western Conference last season. Green has star potential, and Smith is only beginning to show what he can become. Gutting the roster for a 37-year-old, even one as efficient as Durant, could be short-sighted if the timeline doesn’t align.
The Spurs face a similar dilemma. The Silver and Black are building around Victor Wembanyama, and parting with a promising rookie like Stephon Castle or a versatile two-way forward like Jeremy Sochan might be too much too soon. Both players are on team-friendly rookie deals and are viewed internally as long-term fits. While adding Durant would fast-track the rebuild, it could also undermine the slow, sustainable growth that’s been the Spurs’ hallmark.
Needless to say, both Texas franchises have a lot to think about. The allure of Durant is real, but so is the risk of rushing the process.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.