20KD: How does Durant stack up to the rest of the 20,000 point club?
By Jelani Scott
Would a G.O.A.T by any other name play as sweet?
Ok, be honest, did you realize I was referencing Shakespeare or the question everyone asks when the discussion for “who’s better than Jordan” comes up at the barber shop?
Whether or not you agree with Durant’s comments last year comparing his criticism to Jordan’s, it’s hard to argue that Durant, like Michael Jordan, needs no formal introduction. So, without further ado, let’s look at the numbers from MJ’s 20,000th point game.
The moment occured on January 8, 1993 in a home game against the Bucks that the Bulls went on to win 120-95. The story here is clearly not the fact that they won because winning is what the Bulls did in the 90’s, but the performance of His Airness in the game. He finished the night with 35 points on 15/26 shooting, with eight boards, seven assists and four steals. The description I read of the moment sent chills down my spine so much that I had to scour YouTube to see if footage existed (you’re welcome):
The Bulls would win their third straight title later that season as Jordan put up averages of 32.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 5.5 APG to close 1992-93. The legend would only continue to grow from there…next slide, please.