Step aside, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant is smitten by Dirk Nowitzki.
Speaking with reporters before the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks, Durant admitted to having a healthy admiration (infatuation?) for the 35-year-old Dirk, according to ESPN Dallas’ Tim MacMahon (h/t Beyond The Buzzer):
Asked after Oklahoma City’s morning shootaround when he identified the one-legged fadeaway as something he wanted to implement into his game, Durant told reporters, “When I was 13.” Nowitzki was 23 at the time and in the midst of the first of his 11 All-Star seasons.
“Sorry I’m making Dirk seem a little bit old, but that’s when I started focusing on Dirk, and he became one of my favorite players to ever play this game,” Durant said hours before the Mavs meet the Thunder at Cheseapeake Energy Arena. “I just tried it one day when I was working out in the summer. It was rougher than I thought it was going to be, so it took me some time to figure it out, but I think I’m doing all right with it.”
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“I would love to,” Durant said. “I really admire Dirk – probably my favorite player in the league. No, I haven’t talked to him about it. I’m too busy trying to compete with him.”
Love this. If it was a Facebook post, I’d like it, then unlike it, just so I could like it again. Hearing NBA players dish on other current players is fascinating to me, because it reveals so much about who they watch and appreciate most.
Honestly, would you have thought that Dirk was Durant’s favorite player? Probably not. I wouldn’t have suggested LeBron James, but I imagined perhaps Westbrook, James Harden or Kendrick Perkins (I’m so kidding).
Times like these also make me question how serious they are. Is Dirk really Durant’s favorite player, or was he just caught up in the moment? Think about it. These guys hold court seven days a week, sometimes eight. They’re constantly put on the spot and tasked with answering somewhat imposing questions. The brain can only filter so much, so quickly. As they get excited, perhaps they start speaking in slight hyperbole.
Assuming Durant actually means this, however, I then cannot help but wonder how teammates begin to feel, Westbrook especially. So you like Dirk better than me, Kevin? What the eff? What gives, dude?
Obviously, Durant and Westbrook didn’t choose to play alongside each other—though they kind of did, by both remaining with the Thunder—but it’s like a parenting thing. Mothers and fathers, to the best of my knowledge, don’t come out and tell one of their kids “you’re my favorite” or “you’re not my favorite.” If they do, they’re probably kidding. And if their not, those children of theirs better seek therapy quick.
Clearly, Durant enjoys playing with Westbrook. Should he not, he’s great at pretending like he does. So really, this means nothing. It’s him paying praise and homage to Dirk, one of the greatest forwards to ever play the game. I can dig that.
As for stealing Dirk’s one-legged fadeaway, I also approve. Those shots may technically be illegal, but they’re a thing of beauty. I may or may not have even hit a few during my last pickup game (you caught me, I didn’t).
To those NBA players who are offended by Durant’s choice and/or exist solely to become the apple of his affections, you should work on your one-legged jumpers. Implementing them might make Durant love you more.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
