During a recent appearance on the Out the Mud podcast, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant shared his thoughts on what would constitute his starting five composed entirely of 'pure hoopers.' After some careful consideration, Durant settled on a lineup featuring Kyrie Irving at point guard, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, Tracy McGrady as small forward, himself at power forward, and Kevin Garnett occupying the center position.

Durant acknowledged the difficulty in narrowing down his choices, particularly when determining whether to select Bryant or Michael Jordan. Each of the players Durant included in his lineup has made an indelible mark on the game. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady are all enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and Durant, along with Irving, is expected to join their ranks in the future. Career statistics highlight their exceptional abilities, with Bryant averaging 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, Garnett contributing 17.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, and McGrady posting averages of 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists throughout his illustrious career.

To date, Durant has been averaging 27.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while Irving has recorded an average of 23.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Fans eagerly anticipate the next matchup between these two prolific scorers, as Durant's Suns are scheduled to visit Irving's Mavericks on March 9 in Dallas.