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When two offensive masterminds clash, the battle is one to watch. When it came in the 2010s, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant were the leading offensive players in the league. Both had weapons unlike no other and knew how to rack up their points. However, with the skill also came mutual respect. Recently, Kevin Durant opened up about the Mamba and explained how he was pretty much unstoppable.

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Before his ACL injury, Kobe was one of the best players in the league. The Mamba had his competitive spirit lit up and was standing out on the offensive charts.

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As a man who was willing to take shots, Kobe always had a score-first mentality. Combined with his will to win, Bryant was a force that was almost impossible to curb.

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While speaking to Reddick on his podcast, Durant spoke about how there was no defense that could stop the Mamba from scoring.

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Kevin Durant shares respect for Kobe Bryant

While Durant spoke about his matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks, Reddick said it reminded him a lot about Kobe Bryant. He said there were only two outcomes: either Kobe makes the shot or he misses. To this, Durant added and said in the span of 2008-2013, there was no defense that was fit enough to stop Kobe Bryant.

Durant said: “Yeah Kobe had a, I want to say 2008 to like 2013, it was no defense for him. It’s like extra help or just full-out double.”

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It isn’t surprising to see Durant speak this way about Kobe. Bryant was the best offensive player for a number of years. In the span Durant mentioned, Kobe won his only MVP award in the 2008 season. In addition, the Mamba went on to have several MVP caliber seasons to follow once even leading the scoring with 35 points per game.

He also scored over 33000 points in his 20-year career. While KD acknowledged the supremacy of Kobe, the Mamba felt the same way about the Slim Reaper.

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During an interview, Bryant revealed the only player he couldn’t figure out defensively was Kevin Durant. As a master defender, the praise by Kobe Bryant truly showcases the offensive talent that Durant holds. Even today, after an ACL injury, he is one of the leading scorers in the league and there are no signs of him slowing down. ‘

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Do you think Durant is a better scorer than Kobe Bryant? Let us know your views in the comment below.

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Written by

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,503 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Arunaditya Aima

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