Kevin Durant Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life

Kevin Durant Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life
Kevin Durant's biography, career accomplishments and life. Photo: Wikimedia

Kevin Durant, popularly known by his nickname ‘KD’ is an American professional basketball player.

Among the heavyweights in the world of basketball, Durant is one that stands out.

From his smashing basketball successes in high school to college, it was a seemingly effortless stride as his success transcended into professional basketball, winning a plethora of awards and trophies, notably two Olympic medals.

He now plays in the NBA for the Brooklyn Nets.

This article on Kevin Durant’s biography facts, childhood, and personal life presents a notable account from his early life to date.

Other highlights include his NBA/Basketball career, achievements and awards, famous quotes, plus other on-screen and off-screen facts about his life.

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Kevin Durant’s Net Worth

Kevin Durant Biography Facts & Profile

Full Name:Kevin Wayne Durant
Nickname:KD, The Servant, Kid Dynamite
Born:September 29, 1988 (age 35 years old)
Place of Birth:Washington D.C, United States of America
Nationality:American
Height:6 feet, 9 inches (2.06 meters)
Shoe Size:18
Weight:240 lbs (109 kg)
Education:National Christian Academy, Oak hill Academy, Montrose Christian School, University of Texas
Parents:Wanda Durant (mother), Wayne Pratt (father)
Occupation:Basketball Player
Current Team:Brooklyn Nets
Playing Career:2007–present
Zodiac Sign:Libra

Kevin Durant Childhood & Early Life

Kevin Durant Childhood Photos
Childhood Photo of Kevin Durant. via cavsnation.com

Kevin Wayne Durant was born on the 29th of September 1988 to Wayne Pratt and Wanda Durant in Washington D.C.

Things weren’t all rosy for him at a tender age.

His father departed from his family before securing a divorce from his mother, leaving young Kevin cared for by his grandmother Barbara Davis.

When Kevin clocked 13, his father came back into his life accompanying him as they toured the country to basketball tournaments.

He grew up in Prince George’s county of Maryland towards the eastern outskirts of Washington along with his sister, Brianna, and brothers, Tony and Rayvonne.

He had always had an unusually tall height compared to his peers at a young age, measuring 6 feet 0 inches about 1.83m while in middle school between ages 13-14.

Kevin had nursed the thought of playing for his favorite NBA team Toronto Raptors.

He played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for several teams in Maryland and became teammates with future NBA stars Ty Lawson, Michael Beasley, and Greivis Vasquez.

Kevin began wearing the no #35 jersey during this period in honor of his AAU coach who was murdered at the age of 35.

He transferred to Montrose Christian School for his senior year after playing two years of high school basketball at National Christian Academy and Oak Hill Academy.

There, he was 5 inches before the start of the season and 6 feet 7 inches at the beginning of the year.

At the end of the year, he was named the Washington Post All-Men Basketball Player of the year and the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 McDonald’s All-America Games.

Hence, he was regarded as the second-best high school Prospect of 2006.

Kevin Durant College Career

Kevin Durant grew about 6 feet 9 inches (2.06m) in the course of the 2006–2007 college season.

He averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while playing for the Texas Longhorns as a student at the University of Texas.

The Texas Longhorn wrapped the season up with a 25–10 record overall and a 12–4 record in conference.

They bagged their first-round match-up against New Mexico after being awarded the fourth seed in the NCAA tournament.

Still, their victory was cut short by an upset by the University of Southern California (USC) despite a 30 point and 9 rebounds intriguing performance by Kevin Durant.

As a result, he was recognized unanimously as the national player of the year, bagging the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year award, and 8 other awards and honors, making him the first freshman to win national player of the year awards.

On April 11, Kevin declared officially for the NBA draft. His signature #35 jersey was retired by the Texas Longhorn in light of his outstanding achievement.

Kevin Durant NBA Career

Seattle Supersonics (2007–2008)

Durant made the 2007 NBA draft as the second overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics.

19-year-old Durant registered 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals against Denver Nugget.

Durant made the first winning short of his career on November 16, against Atlanta Hawks.

He was named NBA rookie of the season scoring an average of 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game at the end of the season, thus joining the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony as the only teenagers to average 20 points per game over a season.

Oklahoma Thunder (2008–2016)

Breakthrough (2008-2010)

After his success in his first season with the Supersonics in Seattle, Seattle relocated to Oklahoma City where they became the thunder switching to blue, orange, and yellow colors.

Durant set a rookie challenge with 46 points at the 2009 NBA All-star weekend.

By the end of the year, Durant increased his scoring average from the previous season by five points to 25.3 points per game, thus making him a tough contender for the Most Improved Player award, where he finished third.

Durant’s height saw a considerable increase in his early years in professional basketball, peaking at a height of 6 feet 11 inches (2.11m)

Durant was selected to his first NBA All-star games in the 2009-2010 season, where the Thunders improved their records by 27 wins from the previous year behind Durant’s play and surprised many as they made it into the playoff.

He became the youngest scoring champion with an average of 30.1 points per game which secured him a spot in his first NBA All-star games.

Durant scored 24 points in Oklahoma game 1 loss to LA Lakers in his playoff début.

Oklahoma City lost the game, but Durant was labeled title contender for his impressive performance.

Playoff runs (2010-2013)

Kevin Durant Dunk with Oklahoma
Kevin Durant with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011. Wikimedia.

Before the start of 2010, Durant announced via Twitter a 5-year contract extension valued at $86 million dollars.

The following year saw Durant leading the scoring chart, averaging 27.7 points per game.

Durant led Oklahoma Thunder to 55 wins and a fourth seed in the western conference.

Oklahoma City beat the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies in the playoff on their way to a conference final match-up against the Dallas Mavericks, where they lost in five games.

On February 19 of the 2011-12 season, Durant secured his first career 50-point game when he scored 51 points against Denver Nuggets.

He scored 36 points at the All-star Game, as a result, he was awarded the NBA All-star Game Most Valuable Player award.

Durant finished the year with a scoring average of 28 points per game.

Behind the talented player’s skills, Oklahoma City recorded 47 wins and secured a spot in the playoff as the Western Conference’s second seed.

Durant’s notable performance was in game 1 of their first-round against Mavericks, where he grabbed a game-winner with only 1.5 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma City went on to defeat Dallas, LA Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs before losing to the Miami Heat in the finals.

He led the NBA finals scoring average with 30.6 points per game on a 54.8 shooting rate.

Despite failing to defend his scoring title in the 2012–2013 season, he finished with a scoring average of 28.1 points per game, 51% shooting rate, a 41.6% 3 points shooting rate, and a 90.5% free throw shooting rate making him the youngest player to join the 50-40-90 club.

Oklahoma City finished the season with a 60-22 record, which earned them their first seed in the western conference.

Russell Westbrook tore his meniscus while playing against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoff, which first forced him out of the remainder of the tournament.

Durant was given more responsibility, which he took advantage of by reaching a career average-high of 30.8 points per game through playoffs.

However, Oklahoma City was knocked out by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round in five games.

MVP season (2013–2014)

January of the 2013–2014 season saw Durant reaching an average of 35.9 points per game while scoring 30 points and above in 12 consecutive games, including a career-peak of 54 points against the Golden State Warriors.

In April, he passed Michael Jordan’s record of consecutive games of 25 points and above at 41 games.

Oklahoma City rounded off the year with 59 wins, while Durant was voted NBA Most Valuable Player with an average of 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

Durant struggled against the physical style of play of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoff, only seeing a conversion of 24% of his field goals in game 4.

As a result, the Oklahoman nicknamed him “Mr. Unreliable.”

Oklahoma Thunder progressed against the Memphis and Los Angeles Clippers before suffering defeat in the Spurs’ hands in the Conference Finals in six games.

Final Season with the Thunders (2014–2016)

Durant was diagnosed with a Jones fracture in his right foot before the 2014-2015 season, which saw him absent from play for five to six weeks.

He made his season début on December 2 against the New Orléans Pelicans after missing the season’s first 17 games.

He sustained an ankle injury against the Golden State Warriors on December 18.

He was back in action on December 31 against the Phoenix Suns, where he reached a season peak of 44 points.

He sustained a sprain on his left big toe in late January.

February 22 saw him sidelined after undergoing a minor procedure to ease the pain in his right foot.

On March 27, he decided to undergo foot surgery, thereby officially ruling him out of season.

He nonetheless reached an average of 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game in 27 games.

Durant reached several historic milestones alongside teammate Russell Westbrook at the beginning of the 2015-2016 season, which included a win over the Orlando Magic on October 30.

Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 40 points in a single game becoming the first to do so since 1996.

He set an NBA record for scoring 20 points and more in consecutive games in a win against the Lakers where he scored 34 points on April 11.

Durant averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game at the end of the Year.

Oklahoma Thunder recorded 55 wins and a third seed in the Western Conference.

He scored 21 points and converted 7 out of 33 shots, which marked the worst postseason shooting of his career by percentage, and missed in game 2 of the first round of the playoff against the Mavericks.

Oklahoma Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks and faced the Spurs, where he reached a career-high of 41 points in game 4, which saw the Thunder past the Spur in a six-game win.

Golden State Warriors (2016–2019)

Kevin Durant with the Warriors
Kevin Durant with the Warriors in 2019. Wikimedia.

Durant announced his plans to sign with the Golden State Warriors on July 4 in The Player Tribune.

He was publicly criticized for such a move by the general public and NBA analysts who compared it to LeBron James‘ departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He eventually signed with the Golden State Warrior on July 7, in a $54.3 million contract with a player contract after the first year.

Back-to-Back Championship (2016-2018)

Durant debuted for the Golden State Warriors on the 25th of October against the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 27 points in a blowout loss.

He registered 28 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and a career peak of six blocked shots in a win over the Minnesota Timberland, thus becoming the first win at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks in a single game.

Despite being booed by the crowd, Durant scored 34 points on February 11, in his first game back in Oklahoma City against the Thunders since signing with the Golden State Warriors.

He missed the final 19 games of the season due to a tibia bone bruise and Grade 2 MCL sprain.

The Golden State Warrior entered the playoff as the first seed and finished the year with a 67-15 record.

He returned into action in time for the playoff and helped the Golden State Warrior advance to their third consecutive Finals.

The Golden State Warrior also became the first team in league history to begin the postseason 12-0. Durant scored 38 points, had eight-rebound and eight assists, which saw the Golden State Warrior past James LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Durant was the Golden State Warrior top scorer for every game in the finals, reaching an average of 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.

He was awarded the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

Durant turned down a $27.7 million player option and became an unrestricted free agent.

He re-signed with the Golden State Warrior on July 25, for less than the maximum amount.

He became the second-youngest player to reach the 20,000-point milestone when he scored 40 points in a loss to the Clippers.

He scored a 2017-2018 season peak of 50 points in a loss to the Trail Blazers.

Durant finished the season with a career peak for blocks in the season with 119.

Durant scored 37 points in a win over the Houston Rockets in game 1 of the western conference finals.

The Golden State Warrior found themselves trailing 3-2 through 6 games.

He was heavily criticized for playing too much in isolation.

Durant eventually scored 37 points in game 7, when the Golden State Warrior grabbed a win and returned to the finals.

He registered a career-high of 43 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in game 3 of the Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Golden State Warrior defeated the Cavaliers to grab a second straight championship with an average of 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists.

Durant was awarded his second Finals Most Valuable Player award.

During the 2018-2019 season, Durant resigned for the Golden State Warriors.

Brooklyn Nets (2019–present)

On July 7, 2019, Durant penned a contract with the Nets in a sign-and-trade deal.

By December 22, 2020, made his debut to for the nets against his former team, the Golden State Warriors.

In his debut game, he put up 22 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, in a 125-99 win.

Kevin Durant National Team Career

Durant was invited to the United States National team training camp on the 17th of February 2007.

Despite putting up an impressive performance, he didn’t make it to the final twelve-man team.

The other players’ experience was cited as a deciding factor that affected Durant by coach Mike Krzyzewski.

In 2010, he led the national team to their first FIBA World Championship since 1994 while receiving the Most Valuable Player award.

He reached an average of 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in 9 games.

Kevin Durant 2010 FIBA World Championship
Kevin Durant with his 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal in Turkey. Wikimedia.

He set a record for the total point scored in the Olympic basketball tournament in the 2012 Olympics, reaching an average of 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

The U.S national basketball team went undefeated in the tournament as they claimed gold.

Durant led the scorers with 30 points.

He dropped out of the 2014 FIBA basketball World Cup as a result of mental and physical exhaustion.

He joined the team for the 2016 Olympics where they triumphed, winning Olympic gold.

He was the 2016 co-USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year along with Carmelo Anthony for the second time in his career.

Kevin Durant Personal Life

Kevin Durant’s close relationship with his mother is well detailed in the Lifetime movie “The Real MVP: The Wanda Pratt story.

Durant describes himself as a “high school kid” who loves video games in his spare time. Durant is a Christian and has religious tattoos on his stomach, wrist, and back.

He owns several properties in the Oklahoma City area.

In 2013, he listed his primary residence situated in the upper-class Club Villa neighborhood for sale for $1.95 million.

He opened a restaurant KD Southern Cuisine in the Bricktown neighborhood and became engaged briefly to WNBA player, Monica Wright.

Durant has endorsement deals with Nike, General Electric, 2K sports, Sprint, Gatorade, and Panini.

He acted in the children’s movie Thunderstruck.

He earned $35 million in 2013, ranking him the fourth-highest-earning basketball player in 2013.

Durant claims that “global earning and all that stuff” doesn’t interest him in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

Being one of the most popular players in NBA his jersey is among the best-selling and consistently one of the top All-Star votes getters.

Durant created a reputation for being a kind person, which led to Foot Locker releasing commercials where Durant was referred to as the “nicest guy in NBA”.

He partnered with KIND snacks and launched StrongAndKind.com to show to the world that “being kind is not a sign of weakness.”

He has been more outspoken and controversial in recent times, an instance of which is his involvement in a Twitter back-and-forth with C.J. McCollum in July 2018.

Durant is also involved in philanthropic and charitable works.

In 2013, he donated $1 million to the American Red Cross for those affected by the Moore tornado, which inspired Nike and the thunder to donate as well.

Durant is a spokesperson for the Washington D.C. branch of P’Tones record, a nationwide non-profit after-school music program.

In 2017 he became involved in YouTube, he opened a YouTube account on April 7, 2017, after a speaking engagement at the YouTube headquarters in February of that year.

Durant’s YouTube channel now has more than 790,000 subscribers and 35 million views.

In February 2018, it was reported by Deadline that Durant will create a basketball-themed-scripted drama in partnership with Imagine Television Producer Brian Grazer for Apple.

Durant was named in the Time Magazine’s 2018 100 Most Influential People.

In June 2020, Kevin Durant acquired 5% stake in MLS team Philadelphia Union, making him a minority owner.

In 2020, his company Thirty Five Ventures produced a sports documentary film Basketball County, which detailed youth basketball in Prince George’s County, his home county in Maryland.

Kevin Durant Achievements and Awards

  • 2-times NBA champion (2017, 2018)
  • 2-times NBA Finals MVP (2017, 2018)
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (2014)
  • 10-times NBA All-Star (2010–2019)
  • 2-times NBA All-Star Game MVP (2012, 2019)
  • 6-times All-NBA First Team (2010–2014, 2018)
  • 3-times All-NBA Second Team (2016, 2017, 2019)
  • NBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (2008)
  • 4-times NBA scoring champion (2010–2012, 2014)
  • 50–40–90 club (2013)
  • Consensus national college player of the year (2007)
  • Consensus first-team All-American (2007)
  • Big 12 Player of the Year (2007)
  • No. 35 retired by Texas Longhorns
  • FIBA World Championship MVP (2010)
  • 2-times USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2010, 2016)
  • McDonald’s All-American Game MVP (2006)
  • First-team Parade All-American (2006)
  • Second-team Parade All-American (2005)

See More:

Biography facts, childhood and personal life of famous basketball players

Kevin Durant Famous Quotes

“Hard work beats Talent when talent fails to work hard.”

— Kevin Durant

“With everything I do, I just try to be myself”

— Kevin Durant

“So many people doubted me. They motivated me every single day to be who I am”

— Kevin Durant

“My wildest dreams are when I’m wide awake”

— Kevin Durant

“Basketball is a platform for me to inspire people”

— Kevin Durant

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