Giannis Antetokounmpo Says Kevin Durant Is the Greatest Scorer of All-Time and the Toughest He Has Ever Guarded

When it comes to pure scoring, few players in NBA history command more respect from their peers than Kevin Durant. On May 26, 2026, Giannis spoke during behind-the-scenes filming of an NBA Playoffs promotional commercial with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for the live-action Moana movie, where he named the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.

“Toughest player gotta be KD [Kevin Durant],” Antetokounmpo said. “Great talent. Probably the best scorer of all time.”

The remark comes from a relaxed on-set chat captured on Giannis’s official YouTube video, "Filming A Commercial With The Rock | Behind-The-Scenes Of Moana Live Action," rather than a formal interview.

While the clip quickly went viral, it’s far from the first time Giannis has publicly praised Durant. During the Bucks’ intense 2021 playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, Antetokounmpo repeatedly referred to Durant as “the best player in the world” after multiple dominant scoring performances.

Giannis also previously admitted Durant was “the best I’ve seen in my life” as a scorer and acknowledged that “nobody in this world can go back and forth with KD.”

That history gives Antetokounmpo’s latest comments added significance. This wasn’t a reaction to a single hot game or playoff matchup - it reinforced a long-standing belief from one of the NBA’s biggest stars that Durant remains the gold standard for pure scoring ability.

The praise adds to Durant’s already legendary offensive resume. Across his 18-year NBA career, the Phoenix Suns star has won four scoring titles and established himself as one of the league’s most unstoppable offensive weapons.

One of those scoring crowns came during his 2013-14 MVP season, widely considered one of the best individual scoring campaigns in modern NBA history.

There are no lies detected behind Antetokounmpo's sentiments. Durant is currently in fifth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. KD has 32,597 career points. He is 1,046 points away from eclipsing the late great Kobe Bryant in fourth place.

The highest total points Durant has put up in his career were 2,593 back in the 2013-14 season. Given how he's currently averaging 27.1 points in his career, Durant will likely overtake Bryant in the all-time scoring list next season. That's given he wouldn't be sidelined for the majority of the season due to injury.

Based on the mathematics, Durant will need to play in at least 39 games next season to get past Bryant. By then, his next challenge would be to break Karl Malone's record of 36,928 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs Kevin Durant: Head-to-Head Comparison

Throughout both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant's careers, they've faced each other both in the regular season and postseason a total of 28 times. 21 times in the regular season and seven times in the playoffs.

In the regular season, Durant has Antetokounmpo's number. KD has notched 13 wins over Giannis. Meanwhile, the Greek Freak has only managed eight wins over the Slim Reaper. Going up against Giannis, Durant has averaged 27.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.

Meanwhile, in the playoffs, the two stars have met only once. This was back in the 2021 NBA Playoffs when the Milwaukee Bucks took on the Brooklyn Nets in the second round.

Both teams pushed each other to their limits, extending the series to seven games. Ultimately, Antetokounmpo came out on top with a 4-3 series win. But even with the playoff victory, Giannis has a 12-16 record in total against KD.

It's also worth noting that despite the playoff loss, Durant outclassed Antetokounmpo in scoring. KD averaged 35.4 points, overshadowing Giannis' 31.9 points. Having that in mind, it makes sense why the Greek Freak would bow down to the Slim Reaper.