is also a ruptured Achilles tendon, why is Klay seriously declining, but Durant can still average 30+ per game?
In the Suns' game against the Jazz, Durant stepped up again to lead the team, shooting 15 of 22, scoring 38 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, and scoring 10 points in the final quarter to help the team win. This is Durant's 11th consecutive game with 25+ points, tied with Booker for second in team history, and this is only Durant's 20th game with the Suns. So far this season, Durant has averaged 30.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, shooting 52.9% from the field, which is comparable to his MVP season. It's really hard to imagine that this is a player who has suffered a major Achilles tendon rupture. is also a ruptured Achilles tendon, why is Klay seriously declining, but Durant can still average 30+ per game?
Last season's Klay could still average 21.9 points per game, although the shooting rate was relatively low, but it still maintained a good level, but this season, the data fell to 13.8 points, with a shooting rate of 40%, which is completely sorry for his annual salary of 43.21 million. As the Warriors' No. 2 scorer next to Curry, Klay's serious decline has also affected the strength of the team, and this year's Warriors definitely don't look like they are at the championship level.
You must know that a major injury like Achilles tendon rupture has a very big impact on athletes in any sport, let alone in a game at this level in the NBA, and the confrontation in basketball is very strong. Players who have suffered such major injuries in history have often collapsed. Kobe Bryant never returned to the level of the league's top stars after rupturing his Achilles tendon that year, and Cousins also ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2019 and is now unable to find a job in the NBA. Although Wilkins was able to average 29.9 points per game that season after a major injury after a ruptured Achilles tendon, he was only fierce for one season, and the decline was obvious. So it's normal for Klay to be in this state, but it's rare that Durant can be so violent.
In terms of talent, the two can be said to be worlds apart. Although Klay is a top shooter, his ability in other aspects can be said to be very average, his ability to hold the ball and rebound are at the middle and bottom level, and his jumping ability is mediocre before a major injury. Therefore, after the major injury, the athletic ability has further declined, and it can no longer even meet the requirements of the NBA starter level. In the game, it feels very obvious, I can't run and my feet are weak, I don't get rid of the ball carrier, there are many strong shots, and the effect is even worse.
Durant's talent is also in the first gear in the entire NBA history, even if he is seriously injured, but his height and arm span will not affect much, he can still shoot three points from mid-distance with the height of the inside, and there are still few people who can defend Durant.
Technically, Klay is only good at shooting, but even when it comes to shooting, he may not be as good as Durant. While Klay can shoot more three-pointers, let's not forget that the defensive intensity of the two men is completely different. After the big injury, Durant's skills are still at the peak. You can think that off the court, Durant likes to fight trolls on social platforms, but he is more polishing his ball skills, and he is completely a ball idiot.
Of course, Durant has slipped a lot compared to himself at his peak. The breakthrough is not so fast, the shooting height is not as high as before, and it is even more difficult to maintain a high energy output for 4 quarters. But Durant is only weaker than himself, not weaker than others, even if he is 7 successful Durant, he can still average 30 points per game, which is indeed enough to show that today's NBA has really regressed.