Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant
Durant playing against the Sacramento Kings
No. 35    Oklahoma City Thunder
Small Forward/Shooting Guard
Personal information
Date of birth September 29, 1988 (1988-09-29) (age 22)
Place of birth Washington, D.C., United States
Nationality American
High school Montrose Christian School (Rockville, Maryland)
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College Texas
NBA Draft 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Pro career 2007–present
Career highlights and awards
Kevin Durant at NBA.com

Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988 in Washington, D.C., United States) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. A 6'9" small forward/shooting guard who is also capable of playing power forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the 2006–2007 Big 12 Player of the Year, amongst other awards. After his freshman season at the University of Texas,[5] Durant opted to enter the NBA Draft,[5] where he was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. There he went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after his debut season. In 2007, Durant signed an endorsement contract with Nike.[6]

Contents

High school

A basketball player from his earliest days, Durant played for a successful Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) youth basketball team, the PG Jaguars. The Jaguars won multiple national championships with Durant and fellow future blue chip recruits Michael Beasley (Timberwolves) and Chris Braswell (UNC-Charlotte). Durant wore, and continues to wear, the #35 jersey in honor of his childhood mentor and AAU coach, Charles Craig, who was murdered at age 35.[7] Durant later moved on to play AAU basketball with fellow McDonald's All American Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets) for the DC Blue Devils. After spending two years at National Christian Academy, and one year at Oak Hill Academy, Durant grew five inches and was 6'7" when he started at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland for his senior year, during which he grew two more inches.[8] At Montrose, Durant led the team in scoring and steals and was named the Washington Post All Met Basketball Player of the Year. Durant also played with current Memphis Grizzlies point guard Greivis Vasquez while at Montrose. Vetter described Durant as a hard working player, complete with size, and incredible skills in shooting, ball handling, defense, and even some post up moves. [9] Durant also was named a McDonald's All American and named co-MVP of the 2006 McDonald's All American game along with Chase Budinger. Behind Greg Oden, Durant was widely regarded as the second-best high school prospect.[10][11]

College

A 6'9" swingman with a 7'4" wingspan,[12] Durant was one of four freshman starters for the University of Texas basketball team. Durant started in all 35 games of the season, which culminated with a loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament to the University of Southern California. Texas finished third in the conference with a 12–4 record and was the runner-up in the 2007 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament.[13]

Although he had a slender frame, Durant frequently used it to his advantage by posting up bigger players, while shooting over smaller guards.[14] ESPN analyst Dick Vitale praised Durant as the "most prolific offensive skilled big perimeter" ever and proceeded to compare Durant's game to those of current NBA stars like Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki.[15] After a 37-point, 23-rebound winning performance against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, head coach Bob Knight described Durant as quick, fast and mobile, and being "really good".[16] Texas coach Rick Barnes admitted to rarely calling set plays for Durant, instead relying on Durant himself and on his teammates to find him within the flow of the offense.[17]

Coming into the season, Durant was widely hailed by the media as the Big 12's top freshman and a top candidate to be named Freshman of the Year.[18] He averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game during his freshman season with the Texas Longhorns. In Big 12 games he averaged 28.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. His college career high for scoring was 37 points, which he achieved on four occasions. Durant had thirty 20-point games his freshman year, including 37 in a losing effort against Kansas for the regular-season Big 12 title.

In March 2007, Durant was named the NABC Division I Player of the Year,[19] and received the Oscar Robertson Trophy[1] and the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy,[2] becoming the first freshman to win each of these awards. On March 30, 2007, he was selected as the Associated Press college player of the year, becoming the first freshman and the first Texas athlete to receive this award since its inception in 1961.[19][20] On April 1, 2007, he became the first freshman to receive the Naismith Award[21] and on April 7, 2007, won the John R. Wooden Award.[4]

In late February 2007, Durant received an invitation to the Team USA Basketball training camp, becoming the second freshman after Greg Oden to achieve this.[22]

Less than a week after being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics, the University of Texas announced the retirement of Durant's #35 jersey. The number will now hang in the rafters at the Frank Erwin Center along with the #11 of former Longhorn great T. J. Ford.[23] Durant's jersey is now one of nine retired by the University of Texas .[24]

NBA career

Rookie season

Durant declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft on April 11, 2007 and signed his first professional contract on May 25 with the Upper Deck Company, who later heralded Durant to be the focus of their 2007–08 NBA trading card line. On June 28, 2007, Durant was taken second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. It was expected that either he or Greg Oden, the starting center for Ohio State at the time, were to go Number 1 in the draft, but Oden was taken ahead of Durant when it actually happened.[5] In the proceeding month, Durant went on to sign a seven-year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike—a rookie deal only surpassed by LeBron James' contract with Nike.[25] In doing so, Durant reportedly turned down a potential $70 million contract with Adidas, opting for Nike since he had worn them all his life.

After playing only a handful of games in the NBA Summer League, Durant was chosen to trial for Team USA and participate in the State Farm USA basketball challenge, alongside NBA all-stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard.[26] Although Durant held his own in scoring 22 points for the Blue team in one game, he was ultimately dropped when the roster was trimmed to the twelve-player limit.[27] Coach Mike Krzyzewski cited the experience of the remaining players as the deciding factor in making the cut.[27]

On October 31, 2007, Durant made his NBA debut with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals[28] in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.[29] On November 16, 2007 Durant made the first game-winning shot of his NBA career with a key 3-pointer to beat the Atlanta Hawks in double overtime.[30] Durant finished with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.[31] On November 30, 2007, Durant scored 35 points to beat the Indiana Pacers.[32] In a game against the Denver Nuggets, he flirted with a triple double as he came up with 37 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. In the last game of his rookie season, Durant finally recorded his first double-double of his career with a then career-high 42 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, and also added 5 assists. In addition to leading all rookies in scoring for the season, he was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November[33][34], December[35] (2007), January[36], March[37] and April[38] (2008).[39] Durant's 20.3 point per game season average broke the SuperSonics' 40-year-old rookie record set by Bob Rule during the 1967–68 season. On April 30, 2008, Associated Press reported that Durant was awarded the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2007–08 season.[40]

2008–09 season

Kevin Durant at the House of Hoops.

Following the 2007–08 season, the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma as the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although Durant was not selected to play in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, he did take part in two events. On February 13, 2009, Durant led the Sophomore team to a 122–116 victory over the Rookie side at the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. He was crowned the MVP for the game after he set the scoring record with 46 points, breaking the old mark set in 2004 when Suns F-C Amar'e Stoudemire had 36 for the sophomores. The next day, Durant came from behind to win the first ever H-O-R-S-E Competition in NBA All-Star weekend history, beating out Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks and O. J. Mayo from the Memphis Grizzlies after getting four quick letters early in the game.

2009–10 season

Entering the season, the Thunder were not expected to compete for a playoff berth; however, led by Durant, they finished the regular season with 50 wins and earned the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The 27-game improvement from the previous year was the sixth biggest turnaround in NBA history.

Durant won the 2010 H-O-R-S-E contest to win his second in a row. He also made his first All-Star Game appearance, and coached the rookies at the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam. He became the youngest in league history to win the scoring title at 21, averaging 30.1 points per game, beating out LeBron James. Durant also set the modern record for most games in a row with at least 25 points, breaking Allen Iverson's old record.

On April 18, 2010, Durant made his playoff debut with 24 points in a 79–87 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 32 in a 95–92 loss in game 2, but responded with 29 points and 19 rebounds in a 101–96 win at Oklahoma City. He then went on to put up 22 points in the game four win against the defending champs. In game 5, Durant chipped in 17 points as his team lost, 111–87. Game 6 ended the season for the Thunder as Pau Gasol tipped the ball in for a buzzer-beating basket. The Los Angeles Lakers went on to round 2 of the playoffs as they won 95–94. Durant scored 26 points in his last game of the season.

On May 2, 2010, the NBA announced that Durant finished second in the MVP voting for the 2009–2010 season, behind LeBron James.

Durant joined LeBron James as the forwards on the 2010 All-NBA First Team, alongside Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, as announced by the NBA on May 6, 2010. It was his first selection to an All-NBA team.

To top off a career year, Kevin Durant was named the cover athlete for NBA Elite 11.[41] He previously appeared on the cover of NCAA March Madness 08.

2010–11 season

On July 7, 2010, Durant announced on his Twitter page that he signed a 5-year contract extension with the Thunder.[42] The extension is worth about $86 million.[43]

Personal

Kevin Durant is the son of Wanda and Wayne Pratt, he has one sister Brianna and two brothers Tony and Rayvonne. [44] Along with his mother he was also raised by his grandmother Barbara Davis. [45] Durant and Michael Beasley grew up together having a close friendship and remain best friends.[46] Durant is a spokesperson for the Washington D.C. branch of P'Tones Records, a nationwide non-profit after school music program. [47]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2007–08 Seattle 80 80 34.6 .430 .288 .873 4.4 2.4 1.0 .9 20.3
2008–09 Oklahoma City 74 73 39.0 .476 .422 .863 6.5 2.8 1.3 .7 25.3
2009–10 Oklahoma City 82 82 39.5 .476 .365 .900 7.6 2.8 1.37 1.02 30.1
Career 236 235 37.7 .462 .361 .882 6.2 2.7 1.21 .90 25.3
All-Star 1 0 20.3 .500 .333 .000 5.0 .0 .0 .0 15.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009–10 Oklahoma City 6 6 38.5 .350 .286 .871 7.7 2.3 .5 1.3 25.0
Career 6 6 38.5 .350 .286 .871 7.7 2.3 .5 1.3 25.0

Awards and honors

Milestones and records
Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder Franchise Records
  • Broke the record of 6 set by Spencer Haywood in January 1972.

Other achievements

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 United States Basketball Writers Association (2007-03-27). "USBWA names Durant, Bennett as player, coach of the year". Press release. http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2007/robertson070327.html. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky (2007-03-27). "Durant Named Player Of The Year". Press release. http://ruppawards.com/. Retrieved 2007-03-28. 
  3. ↑ ""Durant wins Naismith Award"". Austin American Statesman. 2007-04-01. http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/04/01/durant_wins_naismith_award.html. Retrieved 2007-04-01. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Rosner, Mark (2007-04-07). "Durant receives Wooden Award". Bevo Beat. Austin American-Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/04/07/durant_receives_wooden_award.html?cxntfid=blogs_bevo_beat. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Durant to declare for NBA Draft". Texas Longhorns Athletics. http://www.texassports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=16&url_article_id=6392&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2. Retrieved 2007-04-15. 
  6. ↑ "Durant signs 7-year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike". sports.espn.go. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2941448. Retrieved 2007-07-18. 
  7. ↑ "UT's Durant: righteous talent SPORTSDAY" (PDF). TexasSports.com. http://www.texassports.com/doc_lib/newsstand_mbb/DMN-UTs_Durant_rightous_talent.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-25. 
  8. ↑ Picker, David. "In the N.B.A.'s Age Game, Colleges Are Big Winners", The New York Times, April 22, 2006. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Durant, a forward at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Md., has heard the endless chatter about where he would have been selected in the N.B.A. draft in June. A first-rounder? No doubt. A lottery pick? Probably so."
  9. ↑ "Before they were stars: Kevin Durant". Rivals.com. http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=686314. Retrieved 2007-07-27. 
  10. ↑ "Basketball Recruiting: Top Recruits". ScoutHoops.com. http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&cfg=bb&c=4&pid=88&yr=2006. Retrieved 2007-03-07. 
  11. ↑ "Prospect Ranking: Final Rivals150 Class of 8181". Rivals.com. 2006-05-02. http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1428. Retrieved 2007-03-07. 
  12. ↑ Report: Durant's workout raises eyebrows at camp updated June 6, 2007
  13. ↑ "Season Statistics". TexasSports.com. http://www.texassports.com/doc_lib/000_stats/mbb/2006_07/teamcume.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-27. 
  14. ↑ "Texas freshman Durant romping through Big 12". Arkcity.net. http://www.arkcity.net/stories/020207/spo_0005.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-30. 
  15. ↑ "Texas' Durant 'once-in-a-lifetime' talent". USAtoday.com. 2007-02-01. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2007-02-01-durant-notes_x.htm?csp=34&q=Texas'%20Durant%20'once-in-a-lifetime'%20talent. Retrieved 2007-07-30. 
  16. ↑ Blaney, Betsy. "Durant Makes Longhorns' History in Win". Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013102569_pf.html. Retrieved 2007-07-30. 
  17. ↑ "Durant, Boggan star in Big 12 clash". Dallasnews.com. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/osu/stories/011607dnspoutadvance.27d629e.html. Retrieved 2007-07-30. 
  18. ↑ Goodman, Jeff (2006-09-01). "Longhorns' Durant is simply special" (pdf). FoxSports.net. Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. http://www.texassports.com/doc_lib/FoxSports.com_--_Longhorns_Durant_is_simply_special.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-07. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 National Association of Basketball Coaches (March 21, 2007). "Longhorns' Freshman Durant Named NABC Division I Player of the Year" (pdf). Press release. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nabc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2007DivIPlayeroftheYear.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-22. 
  20. ↑ Brown, Chip (2007-03-28). "UT's Durant racking up awards". Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/032807dnspoutdurant.9b69ad4.html. Retrieved 2007-03-28. "Durant is the first freshman to win the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Rupp Trophy." 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Brown, Chip (2007-03-22). "Durant named NABC player of the year". Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/032207dnspoutbrief.44280fd.html. Retrieved 2007-03-22. 
  22. ↑ Tomasson, Chris (2007-02-17). "Dantley given Hall of Fame support". Rocky Mountain News. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_5359105,00.html. Retrieved 2007-03-07. "Colangelo said he plans to invite University of Texas player Kevin Durant to Team USA training camp this summer." 
  23. ↑ Rosner, Mark (2007-07-03). "Durant's jersey to be retired". Austin American Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/07/03/durants_jersey_to_be_retired.html. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  24. ↑ Young, Durant to join Williams, Ford with retired UT jersey numbers
  25. ↑ McDonald, Jeff (2007-07-20). "Longhorns Mailbag: UT worth millions to Durant". San Antonio Express-News. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA072007.WEB.Hornsmailbag.en.90b6eb77.html. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  26. ↑ McMenamin, Dave (2007-07-25). "Team USA: Durant Better Than Advertised". NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/usabasketball/durantusa_072207.html. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Mahoney, Brian (2007-08-26). "Durant, Collison dropped from U.S. team". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2007-08-25-3065978470_x.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  28. ↑ October 31, 2007 boxscore: SuperSonics 103, Nuggets 120
  29. ↑ Carmelo, Denver dominate Durant in rookie's regular-season debut
  30. ↑ Wilkins scores 41, but Durant's 3-pointer clinches Sonics' double-OT win
  31. ↑ N/A (2007-11-16). "SuperSonics 126, Hawks 123". ESPN.com. http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=271116001. Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
  32. ↑ Sonics ride Durant's 35 to first home win
  33. ↑ Horford, Durant Named Rookies of the Month
  34. ↑ ATLANTA'S AL HORFORD AND SEATTLE'S KEVIN DURANT NAMED T-MOBILE ROOKIES OF THE MONTH
  35. ↑ Yi, Durant Named Rookies of the Month
  36. ↑ Durant, Horford Headline T-Mobile All-Rookie Team
  37. ↑ Horford, Durant Named T-Mobile Rookies of the Month
  38. ↑ Sessions, Durant Named T-Mobile Rookies of the Month
  39. ↑ ESPN – Kevin Durant Stats, News, Photos – Seattle SuperSonics – NBA Basketball
  40. ↑ Allen, Percy (2008-05-01). "Sonics' Kevin Durant named NBA rookie of the year". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2004385626_soniweb01.html. 
  41. ↑ Kevin Durant will be cover athlete of "NBA Elite 11"
  42. ↑ Durant's Twitter Contract Extension Announcement
  43. ↑ Durant, Thunder agree on extension
  44. ↑ Kevin Durant USA Basketball. Retrieved on March 15, 2008.
  45. ↑ Bob Knight's Remarks Wrongly Taint Durant. Retrieved on March 12, 2007.
  46. ↑ Childhood friends Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant could become Sonics teammates. Retrieved on May 19, 2008.
  47. ↑ http://kevindurant35.com/2010/08/02/kevin-durant-and-ptones-records-apply-for-the-pepsi-refresh-grant/
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Dre (2007-03-07). "ESPN All-American Team And POY". Serious Hoops. http://serioushoopsblog.com/espn-all-american-team-and-poy/. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  49. ↑ Brown, Chip (2007-03-27). ""Durant, Law on All-America team"". Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/032707dnspoallamerican.19048ec.html. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  50. ↑ "John R. Wooden Award announces the 2006–07 All-American Team". John R. Wooden Award. 2007-03-27. http://woodenaward.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032707aaa.html. Retrieved 2007-03-28. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 "Final Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards For 2006–07 Announced (March 5)". Big 12 Conference. March 5, 2007. http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030507aab.html. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  52. ↑ Big 12 Conference (2007-03-04). "Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards Announced" (pdf). Press release. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big12/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/awards-0607.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  53. ↑ "Durant, Bennett earn AP honors". Sports Illustrated. 2007-03-30. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/ncaa/specials/ncaa_tourney/2007/03/30/bc.bkc.applayeroftheyea.ap/index.html. Retrieved 2007-04-02. 

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
J. J. Redick		 Naismith College Player of the Year
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
J. J. Redick		 John R. Wooden Award
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
P. J. Tucker		 Big 12 Conference
Men's Basketball
Player of the Year
2007		 Succeeded by
Michael Beasley
Preceded by
J. J. Redick
Adam Morrison		 Oscar Robertson Trophy
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
J. J. Redick		 Adolph Rupp Trophy
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
Brandon Roy		 NBA Rookie of the Year
2008		 Succeeded by
Derrick Rose
Oklahoma City Thunder current roster

0 Westbrook | 2 Sefolosha | 3 White | 4 Collison | 6 Maynor | 7 Ivey | 9 Ibaka | 12 Krstić | 13 Harden | 14 Cook | 22 Green | 23 Mullens | 35 Durant | 42 Peterson | 45 Aldrich

Head coach: Brooks | Assistant coaches: Bryant | Cheeks | Kalamian | Keefe