When we stopped doing the Warriors Wonder a couple of years ago, it was because it was pretty much Steph Curry every night. It just didn’t seem like an interesting feature any more because it was almost exclusively this one guy going off every single night. On any other team, this would be the story with Kevin Durant - a 7-footer who leads the league in blocked shots, who also just happens to play with the handles and shooting accuracy of a wing player.

I don’t want to use the cliche of Durant was everywhere last night, but I just can’t think of a better way to portray his impact on the game. Offensively, he was efficiently pouring in his points all night - 31 points on 20 field goal attempts. Even when Steph Curry isn’t hitting shots, the team can look to Durant to initiate an attack which helps prevent the stagnation that sometime plagues the team. Sure, it wasn’t a pretty game, and the team is still shaking off the offseason but Durant continually flashed impressive moments in his season-high scoring night.

It was another impressive stat line for Durant: 31 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. And one save of a reporter.

Although Durant is only the second leading scorer on the team and apparently forgetting a play or two sometimes, he is still one of the very best basketball players on the planet right now...did I mention his handles?

Also, in case you missed it, watch Kevin Durant’s role in the scuffle last night. He first peels John Wall out of the fray, then comes back and gently (but firmly) pushes the crowd back.

Wonderful.

Warrior Wonder Honarable Mention

Even prior to the emergence of Bell, there were plenty of questions swirling around the long-term outlook of Kevon Looney. Even with the injury excuse, folks were starting to grow antsy about Looney’s performance. A recent poll here on GSOM showed that 36% of you wanted to decline his contract option.

Coach Steve Kerr, in all his wisdom, understands that Looney is still the youngest player on the roster and has plenty of time to develop so he benched Bell last night in order to get Looney some minutes.

Eleven of them to be precise.

In those eleven minutes he accrued nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. And the best part is that he looked good doing it. He has lost some weight, and had more time to get healthy after his early hip issues and it shows. Looney was always quick to react and position himself, but now it seems like his body can keep up.