Kevin Durant’s Legacy: NBA Stardom, Championships, and Business Ventures
Kevin Wayne Durant, known as KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. Born on September 29, 1988, Durant is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. His accolades include two NBA championships, an MVP Award, two Finals MVP Awards, four scoring titles, 14 All-Star selections, and 11 All-NBA team appearances. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Durant was a top high school prospect and played one season at the University of Texas, where he won numerous awards and became the first freshman to be named Naismith College Player of the Year. Selected second overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics (later the Oklahoma City Thunder), he led them to the 2012 NBA Finals. In 2016, Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, winning consecutive championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018. After an Achilles injury in the 2019 Finals, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Suns in 2023.
Internationally, Durant has won four Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024) and holds the record as the leading scorer in Team USA's Olympic basketball history. He is the only player to win MVP awards in the NBA, Olympics, and World Cup. Off the court, Durant is one of the highest-earning players due to endorsements and philanthropy. In 2018, he was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people.
KD NCAA Basketball Period
In the 2006–07 season, Kevin Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game for the Texas Longhorns, leading the team to a 25–10 record and a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Despite his 30-point, 9-rebound performance, Texas was upset in the second round by USC. Durant was named the unanimous national player of the year, winning the John R. Wooden Award, the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, and other major honors, becoming the first freshman to win these awards. After the season, he declared for the NBA draft, and his No. 35 jersey was later retired by Texas.
Kevin Durant Rookie of the Year Season
Kevin Durant was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA draft. In his debut, the 19-year-old scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, and had three steals against the Denver Nuggets. He made his first game-winning shot on November 16 against the Atlanta Hawks. Durant ended the 2007–08 season averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors and joining an elite group of teenage players to average 20 points per game.
Kevin Durant MVP Season
During the 2013–14 season, Kevin Durant averaged 35.9 points per game in January, scoring 30 or more points in 12 straight games, including a career-high 54 against the Warriors. He broke Michael Jordan's record for consecutive games with 25 points or more at 41. Durant was named NBA MVP after averaging 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Despite early playoff struggles against the Grizzlies, Durant helped the Thunder reach the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the Spurs.
2nd Championship and Finals MVP
After the 2017 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant opted out of his $27.7 million contract, becoming a free agent. On July 25, he re-signed with the Warriors for less than the maximum to help maintain the team's core roster. In the 2017–18 season, Durant became the second-youngest player to reach 20,000 points and set a career-high with 14 assists. Despite missing time with a fractured rib, he helped the Warriors finish with 58 wins and set a personal best with 119 blocks. In the Western Conference Finals, Durant scored 37 points in Game 1 against the Houston Rockets. Despite facing criticism for isolation play, he scored 34 points in Game 7, leading the Warriors back to the Finals. Durant averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in the Finals, earning his second straight Finals MVP as Golden State swept the Cavaliers.
Became Top 10 In All Time Scoring
On October 31, 2023, Kevin Durant scored 26 points in a loss to the Spurs, passing Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th on the all-time scoring list. He reached 27,000 career points, becoming the 12th player to do so. On November 17, Durant put up 38 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a win over the Jazz, and on November 21, he scored 31 points against the Trail Blazers, passing Elvin Hayes for 11th place. By December, Durant had moved up to 10th, passing Moses Malone. On January 21, 2024, Durant scored 40 points without a free throw attempt, becoming the first Sun to do so. He continued his impressive scoring run, moving up the all-time list, and by March 20, he had passed Shaquille O'Neal for eighth place.
Other Personal Items of Kevin Durant
On June 15, 2020, Kevin Durant acquired a 5% stake in the MLS team Philadelphia Union, with the option to increase his ownership. In August 2021, his media company, Boardroom, partnered with Weedmaps to produce content aimed at breaking the stigma around cannabis, especially in sports. In May 2021, Durant's Thirty Five Ventures invested in Just Women's Sports, supporting women's sports coverage. He also produced the TV series "Swagger," based on his life, released in October 2021. Additionally, Durant became a brand ambassador for Coinbase and invested in a professional pickleball team with Rich Kleiman in October 2022.
