During a recent episode of Mind The Game featuring LeBron James and Steve Nash, Kevin Durant delivered a stark warning about the dwindling opportunities for small guards standing 6’0 to 6’1 in the NBA. He emphasized that unless these players possess extraordinary defensive skills or elite offensive talent, their chances of maintaining a starting role in today’s league are rapidly fading.
Why Small Guards Are Struggling to Stay in Starting Lineups
Kevin Durant bluntly addressed the current valuation of smaller guards by stating,
“I don’t know if the six-foot-two-and-under guard is at a premium anymore as a starter. Maybe as a backup.”
He pointed to the harsh realities of modern NBA defenses, which heavily exploit any weaknesses in smaller players on the court. Durant explained that the league’s style of persistent pick-on tactics leads to smaller guards being targeted often if they cannot hold their own defensively.
LeBron James acknowledged this shift, noting how the conversation had recently come up, while Steve Kerr described the situation as “compressed,” highlighting the shrinking role available to undersized guards. Steve Nash added that only a select few players — like Donovan Mitchell, Jrue Holiday, or Lu Dort, generally taller than 6’2 — avoid this fate.
Durant elaborated,
“You can’t get picked on defense. That’s the thing. Because we play such a pick-on game that they will really, literally, if you can’t guard, they will bring you up every play.”
He further stressed,
“And if you’re six-foot, six-one, and you’re not a bulldog like a Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday on the defensive side, or you’re not an offensive flat-out savant like Kyrie, where you can score on dudes seven feet easily in an iso, I just can’t see it.”
The Modern NBA’s Demand for Physicality and Skill
This tough stance reflects the evolution of the NBA into a league where defensive versatility and offensive brilliance are non-negotiable, especially for smaller guards. Unlike earlier periods, when smaller players could rely mostly on grit, the current era demands that they either become relentless defenders or possess exceptional scoring ability to thrive. The continuous use of defensive switches and the pace-and-space offense mean small guards must be capable of guarding bigger players or creating their own shots against height disadvantages.
Current NBA stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, and Jrue Holiday demonstrate this trend by combining size, length, or superior shooting and defensive traits. Even guards like Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson, who measure around 6’1 or 6’2, compensate with strong, physical play, standing out as exceptions amid the squeezing out of smaller players.
Durant’s Insight on the NBA’s Transformative Landscape
Kevin Durant’s comments reveal a league that no longer accommodates smaller guards without elite skills, signifying a transition where size and all-around versatility have become prerequisites. A 6’0 guard today is not only competing for one of five starting spots but must also constantly defend against targeted attacks every possession, or risk being exposed and replaced.
This perspective from a seasoned star like Durant serves as a reality check on the shifting dynamics within the NBA. He highlighted that unless a small guard possesses the relentless defensive fight of players like Jrue Holiday or Davion Mitchell or the offensive genius of Kyrie Irving, their chances of securing and maintaining a starting role are slim at best. The NBA’s future may see many smaller guards facing the challenge of adapting rapidly or facing an early exit.