We all wish we could play basketball like the guy I’m about to talk about tonight. He’s literally a team player and will often change the trajectory of a an overall record. Kevin Durant is a former player for the Oklahoma City Thunder and current player for the Golden State Warriors. At a barefoot height of 6’10” (7’0″ with his shoes on), Kevin is one of the tallest players currently working in the NBA. While he’s enjoyed making journalists and the public guess about his true height, in recent years he’s consistently claimed the above stats.
Kevin Durant Biography& Stats
Kevin was born Kevin Wayne Durant on September 29th, 1988 in Washington D.C. to Wanda Durant and Wayne Pratt. Shortly after Kevin was born, his father Wayne left the family without warning. His mother Wanda filed for divorce soon after that and moved the family in with Kevin’s maternal grandmother, Barbara Davis. Kevin wouldn’t see of his father until age thirteen when Wayne came back into his life.
Early Basketball Years
As Kevin started to develop a love for basketball and began playing in amateur leagues, his now-returned father Wayne would frequently travel with him to out of state basketball tournaments, an opportunity that Kevin says helped him realize the areas of the game where he needed the most focus and improvement. During this period Kevin also gained an interest in photography, a passion he still follows today.
High School
As Kevin entered high school, he naturally continued to gravitate towards basketball. Interestingly, he didn’t begin to grow into his now massive frame until his senior year when he transferred to Montrose Christian School. During the summer before his final high school basketball season, he shot up from 6’2″ to 6’7″!
This last year of basketball is what put Kevin Durant in the public eye, winning the title of Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year upon graduation. He also played in a sponsored charity game this same year and attained the title of MVP at the 2006 McDonald’s All-American Game. Many NCAA scouts have since claimed that based on his stats, Kevin was quite possibly the #1 high school basketball prospect of 2006.
Before graduation, Kevin had already been courted by the University of Texas and had committed to joining their ranks. He ended up only playing for the University of Texas for one season, during which he became the 1st ever freshman to be named the Naismith College Player of the Year while garnering several other performance awards.
College
Kevin Durant left college early after being selected as the second overall pick for the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA draft. At the end of his first season, the team’s franchise was purchased, and they moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City where they officially became the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his 9-season tenure with the Thunder, Kevin helped lead the team to the 2012 NBA Finals where the Thunder eventually lost to the Miami Heat in a drawn-out, 5-game struggle. In 2016, Kevin accepted a contract with the Golden State Warriors when his Thunder contract came to an end. He continues to play for them currently.
The Story Behind His Jersey Number
An interesting component of Kevin Durant’s backstory is the tragic story of his jersey number. In his junior year of high school, Kevin’s childhood basketball coach Charles Craig was unfortunately murdered in a botched robbery attempt. He was just 35 when he passed away, so ever since then, Durant has worn a 35 in honor of his mentor.
During Kevin’s early days learning the fundamentals of basketball, Charles was crucial in supporting Kevin both on and off the court, helping to provide a roof over his head while his mother was working through the evenings. Kevin has frequently been quoted as saying that Charles was almost his second father.
Very Religious
A devout Christian, Kevin Durant visits chapel before every game. Many of his now-famous tattoos also reflect his beliefs and ideology. I guess I’ll wrap things up by saying that Kevin Durant is an amazing basketball player and a champion. He and Stephen Curry are both amazing athletes and it’s worth watching them both play if you haven’t seen them ball.
