Kevin Durant

The Slim Reaper

Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988), often called KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets. Known as "the Slim Reaper," he is considered one of the greatest players and scorers in NBA history. His career includes two NBA championships, an MVP award, two Finals MVPs, two All-Star Game MVPs, four scoring titles, and the Rookie of the Year award. He is the only male basketball player to win four Olympic gold medals. Durant has made 12 All-NBA teams (six First Teams) and been an All-Star 16 times. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He ranks fifth all-time in career points and sixth in career regular-season scoring average.

Durant grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, after being born in Washington, D.C. His father left when he was an infant, and his grandmother helped raise him. His father reentered his life when Durant was 13. He was unusually tall from a young age, reaching 6 feet by middle school. As a child, his favorite team was the Toronto Raptors, and his favorite player was Vince Carter. He played AAU basketball with future NBA players Michael Beasley, Greivis Vásquez, and Ty Lawson, and began wearing jersey number 35 to honor his AAU coach, Charles Craig, who was murdered at age 35.

Durant played high school basketball at National Christian Academy, Oak Hill Academy, and Montrose Christian School. He committed to the University of Texas, choosing a lesser-known program because he wanted to set his own path. He was named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year and MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game. He was considered the second-best high school prospect in 2006, behind Greg Oden. Durant later said he would have entered the 2006 NBA draft if not for the one-and-done rule, as his favorite team, the Raptors, had the first pick.

At Texas, Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. The Longhorns finished 25–10 and earned a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, winning one game before losing to USC despite Durant’s 30-point, 9-rebound effort. He became the first freshman to win the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, along with every other major national player of the year honor. After the season, he declared for the NBA draft, and his No. 35 jersey was later retired by Texas.

The Seattle SuperSonics selected Durant with the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He spent nine seasons with the franchise, which became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. He led the team to the NBA Finals in 2012 and won the MVP award in 2013–2014. In 2016, he signed with the Golden State Warriors, a controversial move to a team that had won a record 73 regular-season games. He won consecutive NBA championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018. After tearing his Achilles in the 2019 Finals, he joined the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent. Following disagreements with the Nets’ front office, he requested a trade in 2022 and was sent to the Phoenix Suns in 2023. After two full seasons in Phoenix, he was traded to the Houston Rockets in July 2025.

With the U.S. national team, Durant won Olympic gold in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, becoming the leading scorer in Team USA Olympic history. In 2024, he became the first male athlete to win four Olympic gold medals in a team sport. He also won gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Off the court, Durant is one of the highest-earning basketball players, thanks largely to a Nike endorsement deal signed in 2007 that has lasted 19 years. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in 2018, and Forbes has listed him among the world’s ten highest-paid athletes ten times.

Quick Facts

Championships won: 2 (2017, 2018)
All-star selections (with gsw): 3 (2017, 2018, 2019)

Facts from the source article.

Background

Durant was born on September 29, 1988, in Washington, D.C., to Wanda and Wayne Pratt. When Durant was an infant, his father deserted the family; Wanda and Wayne eventually divorced, and Durant's grandmother, Barbara Davis, helped raise him. By age 13, Durant's father reentered his life and traveled the country with him to basketball tournaments. Durant has a sister, Brianna, and two brothers, Tony and Rayvonne.

He grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland. He was unusually tall from a young age, reaching 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) in height while still in middle school. Growing up, Durant wanted to play for his favorite team, the Toronto Raptors, which included his favorite player, Vince Carter. He played AAU basketball for several teams in the Maryland area and was teammates with future NBA players Michael Beasley, Greivis Vásquez, and Ty Lawson.

He began wearing #35 as his jersey number in honor of his AAU coach, Charles Craig, who was murdered at the age of 35. After playing two years of high school basketball at National Christian Academy and one year at Oak Hill Academy, Durant transferred to Montrose Christian School for his senior year. Prior to the start of the season, Durant committed to the University of Texas at Austin. He was named the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year, as well as the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 McDonald's All-American Game.

He was widely regarded as the second-best high school prospect of 2006, behind Greg Oden. Durant had stated that he would have declared for the 2006 NBA draft if the NBA had not introduced the one-and-done rule, where his favorite team growing up, the Toronto Raptors, had the first overall pick.