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Kevin Durant becomes first player to shoot 55/40/90 in NBA history

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James Foglio
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James Foglio Sports Editor

James is a Basketball Insiders contributor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.

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Sports Editor

Updated11 Apr 2023

Suns Kevin Durant becomes first player to shoot 55/40/90 in NBA history

Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns is the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 55% from the field, 40% beyond the arc, and 90% at the foul line in a single season. Durant and Trey Murphy III are the first two players to shoot 50% or better from the floor while qualifying for both the 3-point and free-throw percentage leaderboards.

The 13-time All-Star also had the most efficient NBA season, averaging 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game through 47 starts while shooting 56% from the field, 40.4% outside the arc, and a career-best 91.9% at the free throw line.

Per multiple NBA betting sites, Kevin Durant and Suns have third-shortest odds to win the championship. Check out which sportsbooks are showing greater odds for the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics.

Kevin Durant almost became the first player in NBA history to average 30 points per game on 67% true shooting. Neither Michael Jordan nor LeBron James ever accomplished such a feat. In the 2013-14 season, James logged 27.1 points per game on a career-best 64.9% TS with the Miami Heat.

While with the Brooklyn Nets, in a 109-102 win over the Orlando Magic on Nov. 28, the forward scored a season-high 45 points in 39 minutes of action. Along with notching seven boards, five assists, and pairs of blocks and steals, Durant shot 19-of-24 (79.2%) from the field and drained three 3-pointers.

Suns superstar Kevin Durant becomes the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 55% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% at the foul line in a single season

In a Suns uniform, Durant’s best performance came on Mar. 5 against the Dallas Mavericks. The two-time Finals MVP tallied 37 points, seven rebounds, three dimes, and one block in 41 minutes played. He finished 12-of-17 (70.6%) shooting from the floor and knocked down three 3s.

Additionally, Kevin Durant missed 20 straight games with Brooklyn from mid-January through February after spraining his right MCL. After the Nets traded the 15-year veteran to Phoenix, Durant appeared in only three games with the Suns before suffering a left ankle sprain during pregame warmups.

Pheonix is 8-0 with Durant. It’s all the more reason why the 10-time All-NBA member needs to stay healthy. As long as the superstar forward continues to play at a high level, the Suns have a great shot of winning the Western Conference. Durant was benched for the final two games of the regular season.

Moreover, Kevin Durant enjoys receiving late-game minutes. “I felt good, but it’s always good to log in to late-game minutes,” the forward said after last Thursday’s 119-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets. “Forty is a number I love; I like to hover around that number. We had to make some meaningful plays in the fourth, so it was good for us.”

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