Kevin Durant (Part 1)

Kevin Wayne Durant, often referred to simply as KD, is a prominent American professional basketball player currently playing for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. Durant is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, boasting an impressive list of accolades and achievements throughout his career.
Durant has won two NBA championships, along with multiple MVP awards, scoring titles, and All-Star selections. He has been named to numerous All-NBA teams and has received various individual honors, including the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and the NBA Finals MVP Award.
As a member of the U.S. men's national basketball team, Durant has also achieved success, winning three gold medals in the Olympics and establishing himself as the leading scorer in Team USA's men's Olympic basketball history.


Durant's basketball journey began in high school, where he was highly recruited and regarded as one of the top prospects in his class. He played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns for one season, earning several prestigious awards and distinctions.
In the NBA, Durant was selected as the second overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who later became the Oklahoma City Thunder. He spent nine seasons with the franchise before joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016, where he won consecutive NBA championships and Finals MVP Awards.


After sustaining an Achilles injury in the 2019 finals, Durant moved to the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent. However, disagreements with the team's front office led to his request for a trade, resulting in his acquisition by the Phoenix Suns in 2023.
Off the court, Durant is known for his lucrative endorsement deals, philanthropic efforts, and contributions to various media outlets, including The Players' Tribune. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in the film Thunderstruck. Durant's influence extends beyond basketball, as he has been recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.


Kevin Durant was born on September 29, 1988, in Washington, D.C., to Wanda Durant (formerly Wanda Pratt) and Wayne Pratt. His father left the family when Durant was an infant, and his grandmother Barbara Davis played a significant role in raising him. Durant has three siblings: a sister named Brianna, and two brothers named Tony and Rayvonne.
Growing up in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., Durant displayed exceptional height from a young age, reaching 6 feet tall while still in middle school. His early basketball aspirations were influenced by his favorite team, the Toronto Raptors, and his favorite player, Vince Carter. Durant played AAU basketball alongside future NBA players like Michael Beasley, Greivis Vásquez, and Ty Lawson.


After attending National Christian Academy and Oak Hill Academy for two years, Durant transferred to Montrose Christian School for his senior year, where he experienced a significant growth spurt, reaching 6 feet 7 inches tall. Despite offers from prominent college basketball programs, Durant chose to commit to the University of Texas at Austin, citing a desire to forge his own path.
During his senior year of high school, Durant earned accolades such as the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 McDonald's All-American Game. He was widely regarded as one of the top high school prospects in the country, although he ultimately opted to attend college due to the NBA's one-and-done rule.
Durant's decision to attend the University of Texas allowed him to develop his skills further before entering the NBA draft, where he would eventually become one of the league's most dominant players.


In the 2006–07 college basketball season, Kevin Durant, now standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, delivered a remarkable performance for the Texas Longhorns. He averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, showcasing his scoring prowess and versatility on the court. Despite Durant's stellar contributions, Texas finished the season with a 25–10 overall record and a 12–4 record in conference play.
Entering the NCAA Tournament as a 4 seed, Texas won their first-round matchup against New Mexico State. However, they suffered an upset loss in the second round to USC, despite Durant's impressive 30-point and 9-rebound performance in that game.


Durant's exceptional play throughout the season earned him widespread recognition and numerous accolades. He was unanimously named the national player of the year, receiving prestigious awards such as the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, among others. Durant's achievements made him the first freshman in college basketball history to win any of the national player of the year awards.
Following the conclusion of the season, Durant declared for the NBA draft, opting to forego his remaining college eligibility to pursue a professional basketball career. In honor of his remarkable contributions to the Texas Longhorns basketball program, Durant's No. 35 jersey was retired by the university, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in the program's history.

References

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10. ^ Hernández, Arelis (November 25, 2015). "Kevin Durant's new sneakers honor Prince George's. Why is the county offended?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
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12. a b I wanted to play for the Raptors Archived November 6, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
13. ^ "Kevin Durant Biography". JockBio. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
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