Golden State Warriors Christmas wish-list: Kevin Durant

Today, we look at what the Golden State Warriors should be wishing for from Kevin Durant for the remainder of the 2018-19 NBA season.

Kevin Durant has already had a huge impact on the Golden State Warriors. Since the day KD signed with the Warriors, the Dubs have experienced nothing but success. Outside of a recent slump, the Warriors have been riding a high since the 2016-17 season.

While the team isn’t playing at their highest level yet, Durant has been having a great individual season. For the year, KD is averaging 30.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. If he continues this pace, Durant will become just the sixth player in NBA history to put up 30+ points, 7+ rebounds and 6+ assists in a single season. Of these players, Durant would be only the second to also shoot above 50 percent from the field.

Judging by the numbers, KD is having a historic season. His performances were highlighted by a three-game stretch in which he averaged 48.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. These monstrous numbers proved what we already knew, Durant is one of the greatest players to ever walk the earth.

While he has been nothing short of amazing, there are still some areas of his game that KD can improve to help the team. The most obvious is his 3-point shooting. As of now, Durant is shooting just 32.7 percent from deep, the second-lowest mark of his 12-season career.

KD hasn’t shot this poor from beyond the arc since he joined the Golden State Warriors. It is surprising to see that Durant has struggled to knock down shots from the 3-point line consistently, especially because he has had little troubleshooting from everywhere else on the floor.

His recent struggles are likely due to the fact that Stephen Curry has not been on the court with him. KD shoots marginally better from the field when Curry is on the court and it is a direct result of Curry’s natural ability to draw in defenders and divert attention away from KD.

Moving forward through the season, Durant will likely be able to find his stroke at some point. Until he does, the team will not be playing at full strength. If there is anything KD should be wishing for this Christmas, it’s his jump shot.