Kevin Durant has long been considered one of the best scorers of all-time. Despite missing a full season and a half, the four-time scoring champion ranks eighth on the all-time scoring list.
He has not averaged less than 25.0 points per game since 2007-08, his rookie season in the league. The 15-time All-Star has not shot under 50.0% from the field since 2011-12.
While he had another strong offensive season — averaging 26.6 ppg while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from three-point range and 83.9% from the free-throw line — a former NBA champion claimed that he is no longer the league’s best scorer. Kendrick Perkins, who also spent parts of five seasons as teammates with Durant on the Oklahoma City Thunder, suggested that the title now belongs to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the latest episode of “NBA Today”.
“He’s the best perimeter player in basketball,” ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins claimed Monday. “He’s knocking at the door of being the best player in basketball. He’s efficient like (Michael) Jordan. He’s relentless like Kobe Bryant. When it comes down to how he attacks and how efficient he is — especially from the mid-range… He’s dethroned Kevin Durant, in my opinion, right now as the best scorer in the league. He has zero flaws.”
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Perkins added that Gilgeous-Alexander is able to score in a wide variety of manners. He claimed that the 2024-25 MVP has confidence, swagger and a small amount of arrogance.
The Thunder star has averaged more than 30.0 ppg and shot over 50.0% from the field in each of the past three seasons. He was able to take home his first scoring title this year. While Gilgeous-Alexander has faced criticism for his ability to get to the line, Perkins believes that he is the best scorer in the league.
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