Kevin Durant reveals 10 players he would like to see go head-to-head in pickup basketball
Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant is known to be a passionate student of the game. While considering his dream pickup game roster in a recent interview, Durant listed some interesting names to pit against each other.
The idea of some of the greatest of all-time playing against one another has been toyed around with for ages. With discussions paving the way for debates, the narrative presents a fertile ground for sharing opinions.
In this regard, there have been several dream matchups involving modern-day greats and legends in their prime. A fine example of this would be a one-on-one matchup between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Taking this approach a step further, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant joined former NBA player Jamal Crawford to discuss such a matchup. When Durant was asked to list out his all-time pickup game lineup, he said:
"MJ, Kobe, me, Bron, Hakeem, TMac, KG, Steph...gotta throw AI in that pickup game. I wanna see that AI-Steph matchup."
The notion of these many greats on one team is daunting. However, the mention of Allen Iverson also garnered a response from Jamal Crawford.
Unlike officiated games, pickup games have a completely different vibe to them. The nature of such games is determined by several factors, unlike organized basketball.
Players such as Iverson featured a style of play that embodied the element of unpredictability, a common trait in pickup games. With showmanship being an important factor, AI is a necessary pick "for the culture."
KD included Jamal Crawford in the final spot on his list. And rightfully so. Much like Iverson, Crawford was among the craftiest and most skillful dribblers ever to play the game.
"I wanna see that AI-Steph matchup." 👀
@KDTrey5 breaks down his all-time pickup game with @JCrossover https://t.co/7IJiRmXzJB
Durant's lineup features some of the most gifted players ever, and with superstars of the game filling out almost every position, it is hard to fault the picks.
The mention of players such as Tracy McGrady is also worthwhile, given the sheer skill and flair he played with. However, the emphasis on the potential AI-Steph Curry matchup would definitely be worth watching.
Kevin Durant in pickup games
The NBA offseason presents a lot of opportunities for players to unwind. While some players choose to go back into the grind, others tend to take some time off before returning to work.
In this time frame, players are often seen in scrimmages with other professional basketball players. These videos from pro-runs and random scrimmages are a great way to keep tabs on your favorite players.
However, another interesting approach to the offseason is watching players play in different minor tournaments. A great example of this is LeBron James' activity in the Drew League this offseason or other NBA players participating in the Pro-Am leagues.
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Needless to say, watching professional basketball players playing in a different setting without a system is refreshing. In this regard, Kevin Durant has also set himself aside as someone who dominates in such scenarios.
The most memorable version of Kevin Durant in pickup games has to be the infamous tape of his performance at Rucker Park. With Durant lighting up the court with his shooting and scoring, KD put out a reminder of his skill as a pure bucket-getter and basketball player.
Read: “He’s one of the only players ever that would beat Michael Jordan in a game of one-on-one” - Colin Cowherd praises Kevin Durant, says he’s an incredible shot maker