LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, often compared to Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant is typically involved in debates about the top 10, including the likes of Stephen Curry and Shaquille O’Neal.
James’ playmaking and defense put him on another level as an all-around basketball player, but they are similar in another aspect of the game.
11-year NBA veteran Austin Rivers has now discussed whether James or Durant is the better scorer.
Austin Rivers rates Kevin Durant higher than LeBron James as a scorer
The argument for LeBron James as a better scorer than Kevin Durant, and every other player in NBA history, is simple: he’s scored the most points (42,184).
However, LeBron does not pass the ‘eye test’ with flying colors. His game is more about physical dominance and less about artistry than Durant’s, as Austin Rivers explained.
“LeBron is number one [in scoring], but his game doesn’t match a prototypical scorer,” he said. “It’s also not sexy. LeBron’s game is built on force, sheer will, dedication, his mind, his IQ, the way he is able to dissect and control a game, and power, above anything else. He wills himself to the basket.
“Now, you have to give the guy credit. As he’s gotten older, he’s become a better jumpshooter. It’s crazy that he’s going to retire the best jumpshooter he’s ever been.
“It’s a complicated thing to talk about because, are we talking about results or the aesthetic? If we’re talking results, LeBron has scored more than anybody. If we’re talking about the aesthetic, then you’re going to go with someone who’s a more polished scorer and more skilled on the offensive side.
“For instance, LeBron has scored more points than Kevin, but Kevin can score in a much bigger variety of ways than LeBron. You can argue with the wall, but that’s just the truth. LeBron doesn’t have half the offensive bag that Kevin has.”
Rivers insinuated that he rates Durant’s scoring higher than LeBron’s, but he later confirmed it when he listed his top six.
He continued: “I would say Kevin [Durant], Carmelo [Anthony], James Harden, Kobe [Bryant], Michael [Jordan], and [Allen] Iverson are the best scorers I’ve ever seen.”
LeBron James vs Kevin Durant scoring stats compared
LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s scoring statistics are almost identical. They average around 27 points per game in the regular season and 30 points in the playoffs.
Both players also have excellent efficiency, shooting about 50 percent from the field in the regular season and 48 percent in the postseason.
| Player | Season | PPG | FG% | 3P% |
| LeBron James | Regular Season | 27.0 | 50.6% | 34.9% |
| Playoffs | 30.8 | 47.6% | 33.3% | |
| Kevin Durant | Regular Season | 27.2 | 50.1% | 39.0% |
| Playoffs | 29.3 | 47.7% | 35.6% |
The only key difference in the stats is that Durant is a better three-point shooter. He makes 4% more of his attempts in the regular season and 2% more in the playoffs.
Given how close the numbers are, it makes sense that Durant gets the nod because his skill set is deeper and his style is more polished.
