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Durant improved defense due to fear of being called out during film sessions

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Kevin Durant is so much more than just a scoring machine.

The Golden State Warriors superstar pours in points with the best of them, but has been working hard to develop a more well-rounded game over the past few years. The four-time scoring champ has made major strides defensively, and recently revealed what inspired the shift.

"Since 2012-13, I've been trying to figure out ways to impact the game outside of scoring," Durant told ESPN's Chris Haynes this week.

"Defense started to creep in there probably two years before I got to the Warriors. Defense started to become a focal point for me where I wanted to be trusted. I didn't want to be the guy where all the film clips are about how they back-doored me, or how someone drove around me or how I'm not contesting shots. I was more so just nervous about being called out during film sessions. That's why I wanted to get better."

The 29-year-old forward, who's been described by head coach Steve Kerr as "self-conscious," said he's also driven by the fear of being pulled out of games late as a result of being a defensive liability.

"I just want to be counted on by my coaches and my teammates in those situations," he said. "I don't want my coach to have to pull me out the game in situations in the fourth quarter because I can't play defense and then they need to go to a defense-offense (substitution pattern). I don't want to be that player. I never wanted to be that player."

Durant's length and agility make him well equipped to be a fearsome and versatile defender, and his commitment to being one of the best at locking down opponents is paying off. The eight-time All-Star is limiting opponents to 50.9 percent shooting within 5 feet of the rim, and leads the league with 2.5 blocks per game.

The reigning Finals MVP gave credit to his teammates for making playing defense not only contagious, but actually fun. The Warriors finished second in defensive rating last year en route to claiming their second championship in three years.

Durant is now tied with Draymond Green for the most defensive win shares (0.5) on the Warriors. Green, the reigning DPOY, said "it was bulls---" that KD didn't make an All-Defensive team in 2016-17.

As Durant continues to blossom into a lockdown defender - with a focus on improving his attention to detail - it wouldn't be surprising to see him add an All-Defensive award to the mantle.

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