So, this whole Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant thing, it’s been rattling around in my head for a while now. You hear the comparisons, right? Especially with Ant’s playoff runs. I got curious, really curious, so I decided to do my own little deep dive. Not just watching highlights, but really trying to see what’s what.
My “Method” – If You Can Call It That
First thing I did, I pulled up a bunch of games. I mean, full games, not just those flashy 5-minute clips. I wanted to see the grind, the misses, the flow. I started with Ant. Watched a few of his recent playoff games, then some regular season stuff to get a broader picture. Just to get a feel, you know?
Then, I switched over to KD. Went back to his OKC days, some Warriors, and then Brooklyn and Phoenix. It was a lot of basketball, let me tell you. My eyes were square by the end of some nights. Seriously.
What I Was Looking For
I wasn’t just passively watching. I tried to focus on a few things, make it a bit of a project for myself:
- Scoring package: How are they getting their points? Is it all drives for Ant? Is KD all jumpers? How’s the footwork when they create space? That kind of stuff.
- Athleticism: This one’s obvious with Ant, that explosive power is just, wow. But KD, he’s got that slinky, long-limbed athleticism that’s just different. Almost deceptive.
- Court presence: How do they carry themselves out there? How do teammates react to them? Body language, you know? Who looks like they want the ball in the big moments?
- The “feel” of their game: This is more subjective, I guess. Does their game feel forced, or does it flow naturally? Is it raw, or is it refined?
Some Observations from My Couch Scouting
Man, watching Ant is like watching a freight train with handles. The confidence is just off the charts. He attacks, attacks, attacks. Sometimes it’s a bit wild, yeah, but you can’t deny the energy and the sheer will. He’s got that dog in him, for sure. You can see it.
Then you flip to KD. It’s like poetry, but a deadly kind. Everything looks so effortless for him. That high release on his jumper? Forget about it, it’s pretty much unstoppable. He can get any shot he wants, pretty much whenever he wants. It’s a quieter kind of dominance, but just as effective, if not more so in its own unique way.
The comparison talk? I get it on a surface level. Young, lanky scorer, can get hot, all that. But the more I watched, the more different they seemed to me. Ant’s game is built on that raw power and explosion. KD’s is built on unparalleled skill and length creating impossible angles. It’s just a different approach, a different art form almost.
So, What’s The Takeaway?
After all those hours, here’s what I landed on. Trying to say Ant is the “next KD” or directly compare them shot-for-shot, it kinda misses the point, I think. They’re both incredible talents, no doubt about it. But they’re their own players, carving out their own legacies in their own styles.
It was a fun little project, though. Made me appreciate both of them even more, in different ways. Sometimes you just gotta put in the time yourself instead of just listening to what everyone else says, you know? Just sit down, watch the tape, and see what you see. That’s what I did, and it was pretty eye-opening. Less about finding a perfect match, more about appreciating the different flavors of greatness. And honestly, that’s way more interesting to me than just trying to fit one guy into another’s mold.