Programming note: Watch the pregame edition of Warriors Outsiders on Saturday afternoon at 4, streaming live on the MyTeams app.
Kevin Durant scored 50 points in the Warriors' Game 6 win over the Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Afterward, Golden State coach Steve Kerr made a declaration.
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"He's the best player in the world; most skilled player in the world," Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area's Kerith Burke.
KD registered 29 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in the Warriors' Game 2 win over the Rockets in their second-round playoff series.
"I think Kevin wants to be recognized as the best player in the world," Kerr told Sporting News before the victory. "And I happen to think he is. Now, on our team, he doesn't need to show it. He's not stat crazy. He's not a guy that chases numbers. He's content to let other people score.
Golden State Warriors
"But in the playoffs, when it's absolutely necessary that he becomes aggressive and takes over games, this is his time to take over. And it's when everyone is watching. And to me, it's pretty obvious watching the playoffs who the best player has been."
Entering this season, LeBron James pretty much universally was considered the world's best player. At this point, the title truly is up for grabs, and nobody is playing better than KD.
Kerr's comments remind us of what Ethan Strauss of The Athletic reported earlier this season:
Sources say that Durant believed his besting of LeBron James in the 2017 Finals would get him hailed as the game’s top player, a mantle he’s craved for some time ... KD, who was “tired of being second” way back in 2013, was still stuck there reputationally, even in ultimate victory.
He was still behind LeBron in the eyes of pundits, basketball Twitter, and perhaps most importantly, at Nike, who’s employed Durant longer than any team. Then, the next Finals unfolded in much the same way, with much the same result, all while Warriors fans cheered loudest for the smaller MVP’s baskets.
The day after Strauss' story was published, Durant broke his media silence and personally singled out Strauss as he spoke at the podium.
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It's unclear if the reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP's frustration was specifically directed at the above anecdote or the article in general (which was titled "Silent Star: On the presumed Warriors’ exit of Kevin Durant")
What isn't unclear is that if you believe KD is the best player in the world, it would be very difficult to say you are wrong.