NBA Lockout 2011: Five Reasons Why Kevin Durant Playing Overseas Is Just Fine

With sites like Sporting News and ESPN reporting that Durant is talking with the Turkish club Besiktas and other clubs in Spain and Russia and the NBA lockout looming, it is becoming more and more likely that Durant will not be in a Thunder uniform when the 2011-12 NBA season is supposed to start.

Obviously none of us would blame Besiktas (who have already signed Deron Williams and are said by ESPN to be pursuing Kobe Bryant), but many probably would blame Durant. Here are five reasons why you should not.

5. If You Don’t Use It, You Lose It.

Playing basketball at a professional level is not like riding a bike. You can’t just take a year off and expect to come back just as good as when you left. A player must continue to hone their skills, even if only to maintain their abilities.

I know what you’re thinking. Practice, right?

(Insert Allen Iverson “practice” quote here.)

Practice is great, but it is no substitute for playing real games against professional competition. And that is exactly what Durant would be doing if he were to play overseas.

4. He’s Young and Not Injury-Prone.

Durant is only 22 years old and missed just four games last year. He has never missed more than six in a season and shows no signs of slowing down physically.

Playing overseas in a much softer league than the NBA is not going to increase Durant’s chances at injuring himself. In fact, he’s probably safer playing for a professional team with actual trainers than playing streetball with random people.

Although, I think we can all agree that that Rucker Park video is pretty awesome.

3. It Shows His Love for the Game.

Durant is a guy who just plain loves to play basketball. It’s that simple.

He does not seem to care about accruing as many endorsements as possible or making a “billion dollars.” There’s a guy down in Miami who has those things covered.

Durant seems like a player made to play the game, so much so in fact, that he has to play it. That should be nothing but encouraging to his fans.

2. He Is Still Growing as a Player and Person.

As I said before, Durant is young at age 22 and still discovering who he is as a player and person. Time overseas in a different culture and basketball environment will help him on his journey toward both of those things.

Playing in a different league will help him develop other skill sets that he might have neglected in the NBA. As for living in another culture, it is also beneficial to see how others live in order to better understand yourself and others and become a more mature adult.

Durant has already shown amazing maturity for his age, as evidenced by the facts that he has never been ejected from a professional game  and has averaged less than two technicals per NBA season. Playing overseas will only strengthen that maturity even further.

1. It Is Not Disloyal.

Some fans will think Durant is being disloyal by going and playing for another team  in another country. Disloyal to both his team and country. But any fan who does think that is not looking at the entire picture.

Here’s why. If Durant had his way, he would not be talking to a Turkish team. He would be at the Thunder practice facility, preparing to lead his team next season. 

Remember, a “lockout” means that the players are being “locked out” by their bosses. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not naïve enough to think the players are completely innocent.

But it is not the individual known as KD who is forcing this situation. He is merely doing what he thinks is right and making the best of a bad situation. And that is always the best option.

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