Kevin Durant Weighs In On Dwyane Wade Vs. James Harden Debate

Kevin Durant is a basketball savant. Just listen to him break the game down in the many interviews that he grants on a weekly basis, and you’ll get a sense of the profound understanding that has brought him success in his 18-year NBA career.

Appearing on Fred VanVleet’s “Unguarded” podcast, Durant offered his two cents on a discussion surrounding two all-time backcourt greats: Dwyane Wade and James Harden. While KD and D-Wade have some sort of connective tissue (in that both are Olympic gold medalists and former Finals MVPs), Durant obviously has a stronger connection to Harden, whom he teamed with in Oklahoma City and Brooklyn.

On more than one occasion, barbershop debates have broached this topic: Is Wade or Harden the better player? Durant began his analysis by pointing out that the similarities in these players’ styles are hard to miss.

“That championship that D-Wade won [in 2006], the style he won with it was insane,” Durant said. “Everything was downhill, pick-and-roll to the cup…he had shooters around him, James Posey and Antoine Walker, and he had backup point guards that could help him. Who does that sound like? James Harden!”

KD, who was featured in the second season of Netflix’s “Starting Five” along with Harden, went on to acknowledge the differences in the circumstances surrounding The Flash and The Beard.

“James Harden played that type of style, but he didn’t have that moment that D-Wade had,” Durant commented. “Pat Riley, Miami Heat organization…there’s a lot that worked in Wade’s favor. And he had to show up.”

The most glaring discrepancy, of course, lies in the championship credentials, as Wade won three NBA titles in his career while Harden is still gunning for his first. Durant did add that Wade had to make some concessions in his last two title runs, as he was playing with LeBron James and Chris Bosh at that point. “D-Wade didn’t have to do as much for them in their last two championships,” he added.

So, does Durant favor Wade or Harden in this debate? His verdict: “I feel like they’re both winning players that could contribute to great teams.”

That answer shows no hint of personal bias. Just an objective assessment of two incredible NBA players. In other words, it’s the sort of intelligent reply that fans can expect from KD.