How long can Kevin Durant, who traded to the Rockets, play?

Kevin Durant is probably the most underrated example of today's high-level long-lived players in the NBA. Durant, 36, shows no sign of a real recession. His numbers are still impressive, his efficiency is still high, and more importantly, he is exactly the player the Houston Rockets need. It all shows that we will see Durant maintain a high level of performance before we at least in our 40s.

Durant averaged 26.6 points per game, shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.7% from three-pointers and 64.2% from the real field last season, 7.1 percentage points above the NBA average.

Anyone who thinks he can survive with just a simple and carefully selected shot is wrong. Durant is the most versatile scorer in the league. His dribble shot percentage is as high as 49.4%, far exceeding the players of Jason Tatum (+14.5%), Anthony Edwards (+11.6%) and even Shea Gilgers-Alexander (+4.8%).

In terms of breakthroughs, he led the 10 most breakout players in the NBA with 58.1%, surpassing Ja Morant (+8.9%), Cad Cunningham (+7.4%) and Shea (+2.1%).

In terms of singles, he is the best in the league: a one-on-one hit rate of up to 55.6%. It is 16.6% higher than James Harden, 13.8% higher than Tatum and 9.4% higher than Shea.

On the defensive end, Durant also showed progress. He reduced his average shooting efficiency against him by -5.8%, surpassing players such as Amen Thompson (-5.6%), Jaylen Williams (-5.4%) and Draymond Green (-4.8%). In the deep defense area, he limited his opponent's shooting percentage to 46.4%, while the league's average shooting percentage was 54.4%.

This level of performance is even more impressive if you consider the injuries he suffered in 2019 – a ruptured Achilles tendon, which historically ends or shortens your career.

Durant is exactly the opposite: he becomes more refined after his return. In the seven seasons after the injury, he averaged 27.5 points per game and an effective shooting percentage of 58.6%, expanding his organizational offensive ability, improving his defensive ability, and maintaining his superstar influence.

And this story of longevity does not begin now. Since entering the NBA, Durant has always been one step ahead of his time. At the age of 19, he averaged 20.3 points per game, with only four players in league history achieving this achievement. At the age of 21, he joined a more restricted "club" with LeBron James, averaging more than 30 points per game in a single season. He became the youngest scoring leader in NBA history, and won the record for three consecutive years between the ages of 21 and 23, and was awarded the MVP again at the age of 25.

From 2008 to 2019, he made the first round of the playoffs every season. At the age of 23, he reached the finals for the first time. At the age of 25, he reached the finals again. At the age of 28 and 29, he won the NBA championship twice and won the Finals MVP twice.

Today, Durant, 36, still maintains his 28-year-old level.

And he himself has made it clear: he is focused on participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the goal of winning another gold medal.

The question is not when Kevin Durant will start to decline.

The question is: How much time can he continue to challenge?

He has been in the NBA for 18 years and has been the top player in the league. If he was counted before the draft, he had dominated the highest level of world basketball for 20 years.

Kevin Durant deserves respect, admiration and recognition.

He is not only fighting against time, he is also defeating time.