[bballguy]

Originally Posted by 411ken

I don't think there's really a lot of durant doubters in nba world..As a lakers guy myself. I knew it was a matter of time before they get to the finals. Hes had a lot of experience and coming up short last year helped and losing to lakers the year before that.

NOW. We shall see how he does in the finals as that's a lot of pressure but I see him just fine but anything can happen.

There were A LOT of doubters in his draft year....

Report: Durant's workout raises eyebrows at camp

Kevin Durant wowed NBA teams in his one college season at Texas. At last week's pre-draft camp? Not so much, according to a confidential draft camp report obtained by The Seattle Times.

According to the newspaper, the report said Durant was ranked 78th out of 80 NBA prospects who worked out at Orlando, while Ohio State center Greg Oden had an impressive workout.

Oden and Durant have long been slated to go 1-2 in the NBA draft, and it's expected the Seattle SuperSonics will take Durant after the Portland Trail Blazers take Oden.

According to the Times, Durant was the only prospect at camp who failed to bench press 185 pounds, and finished behind Oden in some key drills, including the vertical leap, agility drill and three-quarter court sprint.

Oden jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap while Durant jumped 33½ inches, completed the agility drill in 11.67 seconds to Durant's 12.33 seconds, and finished the three-quarter court sprint in 3.27 seconds, ahead of Durant's 3.45 seconds, according to the report.

Durant, however, had a 7-4¾ wingspan, which ranked second among all prospects and measured a half-inch wider than Oden's wingspan.

But Durant's college coach said scouts should not question his strength just because he could not bench press 185 pounds.

"If people question his strength, they're stupid," Texas' Rick Barnes said Tuesday, according to The Dallas Morning News. "If they are looking for weight lifters to come out of Texas, that's not what we're producing. There are a lot of guys who can bench press 300 pounds in the NBA who couldn't play dead in a cowboy movie. Kevin's the best player in the draft -- period, at any position."

Kevin Durant can't bench 185 pounds - NBA Pre-Draft Combine Results

In the middle of this Jason Quick update on Greg Oden's measurables (that Todd posted yesterrday), was a rather eye opening fact regarding Kevin Durant:
But get this: Only one player was unable to bench press 185 even once - Kevin Durant.
Wow. I can bench more than Durant? I'm guessing most of you can too considering I'm not making anyone in my gym turn their head. I don't know how much stock you should put in this from a basketball perspective, but this is a red flag that should indicate he's not as NBA ready as we've assumed.

I realize Tayshaun Prince probably isn't pushing up 200 either, but I just worry about some early injuries due to the banging he'll inevitably receive. Consider this news an invitation for the "Durant Rules" to be applied instantaneously.

Bench press doesn't directly reflect toughness, but strength is clearly needed to succeed in the NBA. (see: Lebron James)