Kevin Durant isn’t chasing ghosts anymore. He’s not tallying up accolades to match Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
He’s not worried about comparisons or critics. At this stage - 18 seasons in, with two rings, four scoring titles, and 15 All-Star nods - Durant is focused on something much simpler, but far more personal: mastery.
“I feel like I’ve mastered the game,” Durant said recently alongside teammate Fred VanVleet. “And that should be the only goal for every player.”
That’s not just talk. It’s the mindset of someone who’s been to the mountaintop, looked around, and realized the view doesn’t need to be measured against someone else’s. After winning his first title with the Warriors, Durant says his entire perspective shifted.
“When we won the first one, and I realized none of that s*** mattered. Like, why am I comparing myself to another man?
I should be playing against myself,” he said. “In my life in general, I’m not comparing myself to no human being in anything that I do.”
That evolution of mindset is key to understanding where Durant is now - and where he’s trying to go. Legacy still matters.
Championships still matter. But it’s not about validation anymore.
It’s about impact - on the game, on the city, and on the culture.
Durant’s name already sits comfortably among the all-time great scorers. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins recently called him the greatest scorer ever - a lofty title, but one that speaks to the standard Durant has set for himself. He’s not chasing Magic or Bird, he’s chasing that level of influence and excellence.
“As far as longevity, relevance, impact on the game, impact on the city. Championships, I want that too,” Durant said.
That drive was on full display earlier this week, even in a tough 128-125 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets - the Rockets’ second defeat in five games. Durant continues to be the engine for Houston, proving night after night that his game still travels, even in year 18.
Before the Rockets' matchup against the Mavericks - a 122-109 loss - Dallas head coach Jason Kidd, who faced Durant during his own Hall of Fame career, offered high praise. It wasn’t just about the numbers or highlight plays. For Kidd, it’s Durant’s passion that sets him apart.
“He loves to play the game of basketball,” Kidd said. “You start with the love and wanting to be great, and KD is the blueprint of that… He knows how to score, he can put it on the floor, he can shoot over you. Just understanding that he's perfected his craft.”
That last part - “perfected his craft” - hits home. Because that’s exactly how Durant sees it.
Not as a player trying to outdo legends, but as an artist sharpening his canvas. He came into the league as a scorer, and somehow, he’s only gotten better.
The numbers back it up, but so does the eye test. Whether it’s a midrange pull-up, a deep three, or a smooth drive to the rim, Durant’s game is still as lethal and refined as ever.
And now, with 31,000 career points in the rearview mirror, he’s not slowing down. The Rockets head to New Orleans next to face the Pelicans, and you can bet Durant will be there - not chasing anyone, just chasing greatness on his own terms.