Durant’s no LeBron….Thank God!

Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant has made a habit of taking - and 

making - clutch, late-game shots in his short NBA career.

I don’t k now how else to say it, but every time I watch the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant – and compare him to Miami Heat league MVP LeBron James – I simply marvel at the major difference in the mentality of each player.

That’s right Eye On Sports NBA fans, while both of these two superstars are two of the game’s best scorers – and James, this year’s MVP – the difference in each player’s mentality is like night and day – and only one player has got if all figured out at this point in his superstar career.

That’s right hoops heads – one guy’s got it all figured out right now – while the other – still generally looks like he wants nothing to do with being an actual team leader – especially in the fourth quarter.

Yup, NBA fanatics, at this point in each player’s career, it’s easy to see that Oklahoma City’s Durant is far and away the better leader – and the far more effective force come fourth quarter crunch time.

While Durant is making a habit out of draining big-time, game-winning shots in the fourth quarter (like the dagger he stuck into the Lakers on Saturday) James has become known for being the world’s most athletically gifted, yet ‘fourth quarter scared’ player on the planet.

While Durant apparently craves the opportunity to be his team’s hero in pressure-packed situations, James has run from the spotlight in the fourth quarter unlike any ‘superstar’ player I have ever seen in four decades of watching NBA hoops – and I do mean ever!

While I certainly can not question James’ work ethic, (he does work hard) it’s clear to me that James will never ever be the late-game leader that relishes taking the big shot, whether he makes it or not.

Will LeBron James ever overcome his penchant for fading 

in the fourth quarter?

Basically, if you watch the Miami Heat play – and the game is close inside the final two minutes, you know Miami’s best chances for a bucket come from Dwyane Wade – and then – most likely, big shot-maker Mario Chalmers (really).

Maybe this isn’t a problem for some people in the heat organization – and their Lebron-loving fans – but it’s a problem for the team whether they want to admit it or not. I mean really, what team throws the ball to everyone else but their best player in the game’s waning moments?

From Kareem and Dr. J to Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, great players have always wanted to put their teams on their shoulders and carry them to victory. However, that’s not LeBron James and apparently it never will be as he clearly wants to avoid all association with being labeled a ‘choke artist’.

 Unfortunately, by not stepping up to the plate to be his team’s leader – or hell, even a co-leader – James has done just that…earned the label of ‘scared fourth quarter superstar!’