3 reasons why Kevin Durant is a better scorer than Michael Jordan

#2 Kevin Durant has shot above 50.0% from the field in eight NBA seasons (and counting) compared to only six for Michael Jordan

2018 NBA Finals Game Four: Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Durant averages 49.4% shooting from the basketball floor over his 13-year NBA career. Michael Jordan edges Durant in the overall analysis, shooting 49.7% over the course of his entire career (including his time with the Washington Wizards). However, a closer look at shooting efficiency reveals another angle to the comparison.

While Durant never touched 50.0% shooting from the field in his first five NBA seasons, he has shot more than 50.0% in each of his last eight NBA seasons. In 2020-21, Durant shot 53.7% from the field, matching his season best from 2016-17 (while he was just 28). Michael Jordan, on the other hand, shot better than 50% from the field in just six NBA seasons. In fact, the last time Jordan shot better than 50.0% on the basketball floor was in 1991-1992 while he was still 29 years old.

Durant’s shooting, comparatively, has gotten better with age. Durant shot 50.5% from the field at age 27, 51.6% at 29, 52.1% at 30 and 53.7% at age 32. This is absolutely phenomenal for any NBA player, let alone Kevin Durant. As the years go by, and the body loses its agility, speed and athleticism, the best of players experience a drop off in their shooting. But Durant’s game seems to be aging like fine wine. If he continues to improve like he is currently doing, Durant may well edge Jordan’s field goal efficiency by the time he retires.

#3 Kevin Durant is hands down the better three-point and free-throw shooter than Michael Jordan

Milwaukee Bucks v Brooklyn Nets - Game Two

This is a no-contest area. Kevin Durant is a career 38.4% three-point shooter and 88.3% free throw shooter. Michael Jordan, in contrast, shot just 32.7% from downtown and a healthy 83.5% from the charity stripe. Jordan, of course, wasn’t brought up on the three-point line. The arc only came into the US college game in 1986, a few years after Jordan came into the NBA. But that isn’t Durant’s fault. He is extremely good at this modern aspect of the game, having made 1655 career triples to Jordan’s 581 long range splashes.

KD has also been a member of the 50-40-90 club (in 2012-13) whereas Jordan never achieved this distinction. Just last season, Kevin Durant shot 53.7% from the field, a staggering 45.0% from behind the arc and 88.2% from the free throw line, narrowly missing the 50-40-90 club for a second time in his career. KD has also never shot lower than 85.4% from the foul line while Jordan has done better than this in only one NBA season (1986-87).

The conclusion is simple. Playing Kevin Durant one-on-one is impossible. He will torch the best of defenders with his high release and wingspan. Foul him and he is a very efficient free throw shooter. Prevent him from going to the basket and he will burn you from outside. There has simply never been a scorer like Kevin Durant in NBA history. No, not even Michael Jordan.