Kevin Durant

 

Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988), also known by his initials “KD,” is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m) and weighing 240 pounds (109 kg), Durant plays primarily as a small forward and power forward. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time and one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history.

 

Durant played one season of college basketball for the Texas Longhorns, where he won numerous year-end awards and became the first freshman to be named Naismith College Player of the Year. He was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA Draft. Durant has won two NBA championships (2017, 2018), earned the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player award, won two NBA Finals MVP awards (2017, 2018), and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2008. He is a 16-time NBA All-Star, has 11 All-NBA selections, and is a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Durant has also won four Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024) with Team USA. He is the only basketball player to win four Olympic golds.  He ranks sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with over 32,000 career points.

Early Life

 

Durant was born on September 29, 1988, in Suitland, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., to Wanda Durant and Wayne Pratt. His father left the family when Kevin was an infant, and he was raised by his mother, Wanda, and grandmother Barbara Davis in the challenging neighborhoods of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Wanda worked multiple jobs to support Kevin and his three siblings, including his older brother Tony and younger brother Rayvonne.

 

Durant’s AAU coach, Taras Brown, became a father figure and mentor during his formative years. Brown’s sudden death from a heart attack in 2005 deeply affected Durant, who has honored his memory throughout his career by wearing #35, Brown’s age at death, during most of his professional career.

 

High School Career

 

Durant attended several high schools during his basketball journey. He began at National Christian Academy before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, then to Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland. As a senior at Montrose Christian, Durant averaged 23.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.9 blocks per game, earning McDonald’s All-American honors and being named a consensus five-star recruit, the second-ranked player nationally in the 2006 class behind only Greg Oden.

 

College Career

 

Durant attended the University of Texas for the 2006-07 season, immediately establishing himself as one of college basketball’s elite players. He averaged 25.8 points (first in the Big 12, fourth nationally), 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game in 35.9 minutes across 35 games. His dominance earned him unprecedented accolades for a freshman.

 

Durant became the first freshman in NCAA history to win the Naismith Award, the Wooden Award, and the Adolph Rupp Trophy. He also earned National Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press, NABC, USBWA, CBS/Chevrolet, and The Sporting News, and was named Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and First Team All-American.

 

Following his remarkable freshman season, Durant declared for the 2007 NBA Draft.

 

NBA Career

 

Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder (2007–2016)

 

Durant was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics on June 28, 2007, behind Greg Oden. In his rookie season (2007-08), Durant averaged 20.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, winning NBA Rookie of the Year unanimously. The SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, becoming the Thunder.

 

By his second season, Durant had developed into a scoring champion, winning his first of four consecutive scoring titles from 2010 to 2012 and again in 2014. In 2011-12, Durant averaged 28.0 points while leading Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat’s “Big Three” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Despite losing in five games, Durant’s performances established him as an elite player.

 

The 2013-14 season brought Durant’s greatest individual achievement to that point. He averaged a career-high 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 50.3% from the field, earning NBA Most Valuable Player honors. In his MVP acceptance speech, Durant famously called his mother Wanda “the real MVP,” delivering one of NBA’s most emotional moments.

 

Despite regular-season excellence, playoff disappointment haunted the Thunder. Injuries to Russell Westbrook and Durant himself limited Oklahoma City’s championship potential. After blowing a 3-1 series lead to Golden State in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Durant decided to opt out as a free agent.

Golden State Warriors (2016–2019)

 

On July 4, 2016, Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, the same team that had just set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins and eliminated his Thunder in the playoffs. The decision drew intense criticism and accusations of taking “the hardest road” sarcastically, as he joined an already championship-caliber team.

 

However, Durant’s Warriors tenure proved dominant. In 2016-17, Golden State went 67-15 and defeated Cleveland 4-1 in the Finals, with Durant averaging 35.2 points and earning his first Finals MVP. The following season, the Warriors repeated as champions, again defeating Cleveland 4-0. Durant averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in the 2018 Finals, earning his second consecutive Finals MVP and solidifying his legacy.

 

In Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto, Durant suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon, one of basketball’s most devastating injuries. Golden State lost the series, and Durant entered free agency facing a lengthy rehabilitation.

 

Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023)

 

On June 30, 2019, Durant signed a four-year, $164 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets alongside Kyrie Irving. He missed the entire 2019-20 season recovering from his Achilles injury.

 

Durant returned in 2020-21, averaging 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 35 games. In the playoffs, Brooklyn pushed Milwaukee to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Durant’s toe barely on the three-point line on a potential game-tying shot in Game 7, one of the most memorable “what if” moments in NBA history.

 

Injuries continued to plague the Nets. Durant missed significant time with a knee injury in 2021-22, and despite his brilliance, Brooklyn never reached the Finals. Off-court controversies involving Irving and organizational dysfunction led to frustration. In the summer of 2022, Durant requested a trade but initially remained with Brooklyn. Midway through the 2022-23 season, his wish was granted.

 

Phoenix Suns (2023–2025)

 

On February 9, 2023, Durant was traded to Phoenix in a blockbuster deal, joining Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Despite high expectations, the Suns never captured a championship during Durant’s tenure.

 

In 2023-24, Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. On January 21, 2024, he became the first player in Suns history to score 40 points with zero free throw attempts, finishing with 40 points on 18-of-25 shooting against Indiana. He reached multiple scoring milestones, passing Shaquille O’Neal for eighth place on the all-time scoring list on March 20, 2024.

 

However, playoff success remained elusive. Phoenix lost to Minnesota in the first round in 2024, then missed the playoffs entirely in 2024-25, a major disappointment. On June 22, 2025, Durant was traded to Houston.

 

Houston Rockets (2025–present)

 

Durant joined the Houston Rockets in a trade that sent him alongside assets to pair with Alperen Şengün and a young core. On December 5, 2025, Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points. On January 9, 2026, he surpassed Wilt Chamberlain for seventh place on the all-time scoring list. On January 18, 2026, Durant passed Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place, cementing his status as one of history’s greatest scorers.

 

Through the 2025-26 season (as of February 10, 2026), Durant is averaging 25.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He was named to his 16th All-Star team. On January 5, 2026, Durant hit a game-winning three-pointer against his former team, Phoenix, later admitting he felt “scapegoated” during his time with the Suns.

 

International Career

 

Durant is the most decorated American basketball player in the international arena. He was the 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP, leading Team USA to gold and setting the all-time USA single-game scoring record with 38 points against Lithuania. Durant won Olympic gold medals in 2012 (London), 2016 (Rio), 2020 (Tokyo, held in 2021), and Paris (2024). He is a three-time USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2010, 2016, 2021).

 

Personal Life and Legacy

 

Durant is among the elite members of the 50-40-90 club, having shot 51.0% from the field, 41.6% from three, and 90.5% from the free-throw line in 2012-13. He remains one of only seven players to achieve this feat in NBA history.

 

Known for his active social media presence, Durant has engaged in both praise and controversy online. He signed a lifetime contract with Nike and has extensive business ventures, including investments in technology companies.

 

Despite criticism for joining Golden State, Durant’s two championships, two Finals MVPs, and scoring prowess place him among basketball’s all-time greats. His scoring versatility—capable of shooting from anywhere, driving, and posting up—makes him one of the most unguardable players in NBA history.

 

References

 

External Links

* Kevin Durant on NBA.com

* Kevin Durant on Basketball-Reference.com