Are Durant, Curry, and Kobe Really Overrated? The Data Says No—Here's Why

The Myth of the Overrated Trio

I’ve watched Durant, Curry, and Kobe play through 100+ games with my radar charts—every possession matters. Critics call them overrated? That’s not data—that’s noise. When you strip away the eye test and just look at true shooting efficiency (TS%), adjusted plus-minus, and impact per 36 minutes on court—you see a different story.

Defensive Positioning Isn’t Just About Blocks

People say Durant can’t defend? Look at his help defense rotations: he’s top-5 in contested possessions since 2017. Curry? He doesn’t have MVPs on defense—but his spacing forces opponents into bad angles. And Kobe? His footwork didn’t need MIPs to be legendary—he carved his legacy with mid-range efficiency under pressure.

The Real Metric That Matters

This isn’t about trophies or hype—it’s about vectors. My models show that when these three guard the ball in high-leverage moments, they don’t just score—they create space for teammates to thrive. Their ‘Mamba Spirit’ isn’t poetic—it’s probabilistic.

Why Data Beats Aesthetics

I grew up in a tch family where numbers spoke louder than visuals. You don’t need flashy highlights to prove greatness—you need cold numbers from the box score. The crowd sees highlights; I see patterns.

Final Word: It’s Not About Legacy—It’s About Impact

Durant doesn’t need rings to be great. Curry doesn’t need MVPs to be elite. Kobe didn’t need six titles to be legend—they were impact engines wearing Mamba Spirit before it was cool.

If you think stats are dull… you’re not looking deep enough.