At 37 years old, Kevin Durant’s scoring prowess remains a given. The statistics—24.6 points per game on efficient shooting—tell a familiar story of timeless excellence. But in Houston, a new chapter is being written. Beyond the silky jumpers and the points tally, the Rockets are unlocking a deeper, more nuanced layer of Durant’s game, reminding everyone why the term “unicorn” was invented for him in the first place.
Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets gestures during the second quarter of the game against the Denver Nuggets.
When you think of Durant’s best attributes, the mind immediately goes to his lethal shooting. It’s a seven-footer with the release of a guard, a nightmare for any defender. However, as ESPN analyst Zach Lowe brilliantly pinpointed, the true source of his uniqueness lies elsewhere.
“When people would discuss Durant as a unicorn, they would focus on his shooting,” Lowe explained. “And then the real in-the-weeds basketball people would be like, it’s actually that a seven-foot guy can dribble with that kind of handle.”
This is the magic key. It’s not just that he can shoot over you; it’s that he can create the shot he wants, anytime he wants, from anywhere on the floor. His elite ball-handling is what transforms him from a stationary weapon into a dynamic, self-creating force capable of playing and creating from the point guard position if needed.
The Houston Rockets have fully embraced this philosophy. The numbers prove it. This season, Durant is averaging a remarkable 2.54 dribbles per touch, a significant jump from his time in Phoenix and his highest mark in years. This isn’t a random stat; it’s a strategic directive. The Rockets aren’t just using him as a finisher; they’re empowering him as an offensive organizer.
This expanded role is paying massive dividends. The Rockets currently boast the second-best offensive rating in the entire NBA (122.0), a testament to how Durant’s playmaking gravity and creation elevate everyone around him.
Kevin Durant in Houston is more than just a scorer. He is the central nervous system of one of the league’s most potent attacks. By putting the ball in his hands more than any team in recent memory, the Rockets have not only extended his legendary career but have amplified his impact. He is no longer just a unicorn because of his height and shot; he’s a unicorn because, at his size, he can orchestrate an offense like a point guard. And that, as Zach Lowe notes, is the rarest skill of all.