Durant is a two-time NBA champion but, having won those titles on arguably the greatest roster in NBA history with the Golden State Warriors, many have questioned their value compared to the greatest postseason runs from other all-time greats.
But Harden and Kyrie Irving both got hurt in the second round against the Milwaukee Bucks, and that gave Durant an opportunity to prove what he could do without such support.
That loss contributed to Scottie Pippen’s skepticism of Durant as the NBA’s best player.
“To say that he’s surpassed LeBron, I think he still has some learning to do in terms of what it takes to will a team to victory.
Pippen is a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, and as such, he appears to prioritize the end result above all else.
He averaged 6.3 per game to go along with 12.3 rebounds and some of the best defense of his career in the final three games of that series.