Paul Pierce says KD is best player in world?

[celticsclay]

Last night Paul Pierce created a minor stir by saying Durant was already the best player in the world. Is this a ridiculous take? One thing I have noticed this finals is that Lebron certainly getting tired easier than he used to. He looked incredibly wiped when he went to the bench in the 3rd. Obviously Lebron had an amazing game in his own right, but is he already able to do it for less time than he used to be?

It would be so fascinating to see guys like Harden, Westbrook, Durant and James all switch teams for a month at a time and see how the team did. Durant has looked unstoppable and like a defensive force with his blocks. However, maybe James averages 13 assists on the Warriors. What do you all think?

[pearljammer10]

KD is the most talented basketball player in the world right now.

LeBron is the best overall talent the game has right now due to his force.

I take KD on basketball talent and skills.

[hpantazo]

Pierce called himself the best player in the world after winning finals MVP in 2008. He's using KD to support his past acertion that he was the best player in the world

[makaveli]

I would still say LeBron is head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and Tier II are guys like: KD, Westbrook, Harden, Curry.
So if I get the first pick for a best of 7 series right now, it has to be LeBron, he has basicly been the MVP since 2008.
But KD is scary, his length is atrocious, offensive skill beyond this world, BUT in his OKC days, you could see the immaturity in his game in late game situations.
IMHO I would take Curry over him as well, so in my book:
1. Lebron
2. Curry
3. KD
4. Harden, Westbrook(just to many turnovers, and bad defense, and decision making to be better that that)

[SHAQATTACK]

in todays NBA yes.   in a lonely gym with no,refs ...maybe not



I think Leonard would beat him in one on one street game or Lebron too.  Curry is a better shooter in a shooting contest .

But skill and shooting wise under the watchful eye of NBa refs to protect him from iinjury  Durrant very well maybe the best player in the world all around anyways.

[Ilikesports17]

Lebron is still the best player in the world.

I might take KD over Kawhi for #2.

[Donoghus]

I disagree with Pierce.   I still think it's Lebron.

But, it's certainly not absurd to make the claim that KD is the best player in the world, either.  If not, he's easily top 3.

[MVPPierceNoJoke]

I am not saying KD has surpassed LeBron yet, however if I just started watching basketball at the beginning of this series, I would say KD is better than LeBron. Interesting to see if KD can sustain this dominance.

[CelticsElite]

KDs game is better. Lebron isn't aging well

[manl_lui]

I disagree too, although both teams are stacked and considered "super teams", I think GSW is the better team. Love had a pretty good 1st half last night but most or less wasn't as effective in the 2nd. LeBron carried his team both games all 48 minutes

KD and Curry was just tearing things apart and Klay also chipped in 20 pts, and Green also did his part in defense, I think LeBron is still the best player by a landslide to me

[celticsclay]

Lebron is still the best player in the world.

I might take KD over Kawhi for #2.

I actually think Leonard is the best player in the world. We saw how competitive they were without him. He never gets any credit cause he is soft-spoken, does not play in a huge market and isn't abrasive at all. However, he is a tremendous force on both ends of the team.

[makaveli]

KDs game is better. Lebron isn't aging well

lol, what 

[gift]

Kevin Durant is the second best basketball player in the world right now. But he could be the best within a year or two.

[Moranis]

Lebron is still #1, but Leonard, Durant, and Curry have slowly been closing the gap.  I still expect Lebron to the best next year as well, but two years from now he might not only not be the best, but might fall to 4th.  It is only a matter of time before father time catches up to him.

And come on, in game 2, Lebron went for a 29/14/11 triple double on a very high shooting percentage and became the only player in history to average a triple double through the first two games in the Finals.  I get that Durant has played incredibly well in those games and the Warriors won both easily, but it wasn't because of Lebron.

[gouki88]

Lebron is still the best player in the world.

I might take KD over Kawhi for #2.

I actually think Leonard is the best player in the world. We saw how competitive they were without him. He never gets any credit cause he is soft-spoken, does not play in a huge market and isn't abrasive at all. However, he is a tremendous force on both ends of the team.

Agree with you celticsclay, Kawhi is my #1, especially if we're talking two way impact. The ability to clamp down on a team's best player 1-4 and then go down the other end and drop 25-30 points is unreal.