When talking about the greats of the modern era, it’s impossible not to include Kevin Durant. Standing close to seven feet, the veteran forward is the perfect definition of a 3-level scorer, possessing a rare finesse.
Durant ranks among the all-time Top 5 in scoring titles, leading the league four times. What makes it special is the efficiency. Now in his 18th season at age 37, he still leads the Houston Rockets in scoring. A career 27.2 PPG scorer, the “Slim Reaper” recently made a telling choice when asked: league MVP or a championship ring?
“I Would Take the MVP”
“MVP. It’s one a year,” Durant stated.
“Ring is incredible… But come on, everybody wants to be MVP… The ring is a lot that’s out of your control sometimes. The MVP you got a little bit more control in your hands.”
This comes from a man who has experienced both: the 2013-14 MVP and two championship rings with Finals MVP awards.
The 2013-14 season was Durant’s coronation. After years as a runner-up, he finally claimed the prize. He played 81 games, averaging a monstrous 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists on 50.3% shooting. His OKC Thunder also finished 59-23, second in the West. This victory was a recognition of his absolute individual dominance and sustained excellence.
His emotional acceptance speech, particularly the tribute to his mother, cemented it as his most profound personal triumph. It was something he controlled and earned purely through his talent.
In contrast, Durant’s path to a ring was far more complex and contentious. After falling short in OKC, his decision to join the 73-win Golden State Warriors in 2016 drew massive criticism for “ring-chasing” the easy way.
While he achieved the goal (2 titles, 2 FMVPs), the legacy of those rings is forever nuanced by the context. As Durant admits, a championship depends on factors beyond one individual’s control: teammates, injuries, opponents, luck.
Durant’s choice reignites the NBA’s oldest debate: What defines greatness? Supreme individual dominance (MVP) or ultimate team success (Championship)?
For the MVP: It honors the single most outstanding individual over 82 games, recognizing consistency, talent, and impact on a team. It is within a player’s control.
For the Ring: It is the ultimate goal of a team sport. It requires sacrifice, cohesion, and performing under immense pressure. It is what defines legacies.
For Kevin Durant, a man who has both but has also faced scrutiny over the value of his rings, the choice seems clear. The MVP is his untainted achievement. It is his “brainchild” that no one can deny or question the path to.
At 37, still playing at a star level, Durant may be seeking that clear, pure light—the kind that only comes from being recognized as the best, even if just one more time.