Durant's Very Own Calculation: KD=LeBron

There's a time-honored saying:

It ain't bragging if you can back it up.

The sticky part, of course, is what constitutes backing it up.

Kevin Durant seems to be convinced it's being a headliner for the Golden State Warriors.

Dude's definitely got reason to believe.

That is, if getting the benefit of calls is any measure.

On Christmas Day, refs were giving the gift of Old School for most of the Cavaliers-Warriors game, culminating in Durant figuring the worst that could happen on this late-game Lebron James drive would be a pair of free throws.

Then again ...

Back in the day, the NFL was suffering a tight end shortage. Seemed like those body types were going to the NBA instead, and the officials were giving them license to make space for themselves, among other things.

Return with us now to 20 Oct 1985 for the ultimate example of the way things were called in those days. Pay particular attention to how the play-by dudes justified Bill Laimbeer's denial of Michael Jordan's well-being:

That style of play earned the Bad Boys NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.

Then stuff changed. Michael Jordan's butt demanded longer shorts for more comfort. Then Jordan himself all but demanded protection from Old School and got it.

But maybe the pendulum is starting to swing back to the Jordan Rules.

What with the convergence of a literal reading of the rule book and top stars expecting exceptions, Durant feels that since he's not getting rung up for his defensive tactics on James, they're now on a even plane.

Accolades and accomplishments and legacy and all that stuff and how they mean to people, I can’t talk on that. But as far as basketball skills are concerned? I’m on the same level. I feel like that moment was [LeBron] saying, ‘Welcome.’

What James was really saying probably couldn't have been aired on broadcast TV.

And what we likely have here is a regular-season game where everyone had too much holiday time on their hands afterward.

Including Kevin Durant.