Kevin Durant Compared To Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr Praises Forward Lavishly

The Golden State Warriors needed six games to see off Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs and are now leading Houston Rockets 1-0 in the conference semifinals after narrowly edging them 104-100 in the opening game of the seven game series.

Kevin Durant has been the star of the show for the Warriors in the team’s last five games after he was subdued in the opening two games against the Clippers. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has averaged 40.2 points in his last five games and that has earned him high praise from head coach Steve Kerr, which included a comparison with the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Michael Jordan.

The Warriors small forward scored 21 points in Game 2 against the Clippers but also ended up with nine turnovers and just eight shots taken from the field. But ever since then, he has been on a warpath scoring at least 30 points in every game, including 50 in Game 6 to clinch the series against Clippers and 35 against Rockets in the opening game of the conference semifinals on Sunday night.

Durant has again been leading from the front in the playoffs with both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson having slow days in the last two or three games. Kerr seems delighted that the two-time NBA champion has joined the party and heaped high praise on him during his post-match press conference on Sunday.

Kerr was asked by a reporter if he has seen like what Durant has been doing in the last few games, especially since the Warriors coach has played and coached some of the best players in the NBA. He had a smile on his face when he replied, saying: “There's this guy, Michael... something. I can't remember his last name."

The 53-year-old coach continued his praise for Durant and admitted the NBA had never seen a player with the all-round skills of the small forward. He went on to reveal that the Game 2 loss was the turning point and that Durant has now lifted the Warriors to another level.

"Kevin's run this past week has just been off the charts. I've said it a few times this week: He's the most skilled basketball player on Earth,” Kerr added. “He's one of the most skilled basketball players to ever play the game. There's never been anybody like him.”

“Six-[foot]-11, handles the ball, shoots 3s, passes, defends. He's just an unbelievable talent. And I think after we lost Game 2 to the Clippers, I think he just felt like he had to turn it up and lift us up another level. That's exactly what he's done," he added.