Kevin Wayne Durant Bio
Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Durant has won two NBA championships, an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, two NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards, and four NBA scoring titles. He has been selected to 15 NBA All-Star Games and 12 All-NBA teams throughout his career. Off the court, Durant is involved in various business ventures and philanthropy efforts through his company Thirty Five Ventures.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Durant was born on September 29, 1988, in Washington, D.C., to Wanda Durant and Wayne Pratt. His father was absent during his infancy, and his grandmother Barbara Davis played a significant role in raising him. Durant grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland, on the eastern outskirts of Washington, D.C., alongside his sister Brianna and two brothers Tony and Rayvonne.
Durant was unusually tall from a young age, reaching 6 feet 0 inches by middle school. He grew up aspiring to play for his favorite team, the Toronto Raptors, whose roster featured his favorite player Vince Carter. During his youth, Durant played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball and was teammates with future NBA players Michael Beasley, Greivis Vasquez, and Ty Lawson. Durant began wearing jersey number 35 in honor of his AAU coach Charles Craig, who was murdered at age 35.
Path to Basketball
Durant attended National Christian Academy and Oak Hill Academy for his first two years of high school basketball before transferring to Montrose Christian School for his senior year. Before his senior season, he grew 5 inches and began the year at 6 feet 7 inches tall. He committed to the University of Texas at Austin, rejecting offers from several prestigious programs to carve his own path. At the end of his senior year, he was named the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year and MVP of the 2006 McDonald's All-American Game. He was widely regarded as the second-best high school prospect of 2006.
During his lone college season at Texas in 2006-2007, Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while leading the Longhorns to a 25-10 record. He became the first freshman ever to win the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, also capturing the John R. Wooden Award and Big 12 Player of the Year honors. Following the season, he declared for the NBA draft, where he was selected as the second overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007.
Kevin Wayne Durant Career
Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-2016)
In his first regular season game, the 19-year-old Durant registered 18 points, five rebounds, and three steals against the Denver Nuggets. At the conclusion of his rookie season, Durant was named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He joined Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James as the only teenagers in league history to average at least 20 points over an entire season. During the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend, he set a Rookie Challenge record with 46 points.
Prior to the 2009-10 season, Durant was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game and became the youngest NBA scoring champion with a 30.1 points per game average. The Thunder improved their record by 27 wins and made the playoffs, establishing themselves as title contenders. Durant won three consecutive scoring titles from 2010-2012 and earned his first All-NBA First Team selection. In the 2012 NBA Finals, he led all players with 30.6 points per game against the Miami Heat.
During the 2013-14 season, Durant averaged 35.9 points per game in January while scoring 30 or more points in 12 consecutive games, including a career-high 54 points against the Golden State Warriors. He surpassed Michael Jordan's record for consecutive games scoring 25 points or more at 41. He was voted NBA Most Valuable Player behind averages of 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. However, injuries plagued him in 2014-15, limiting him to just 27 games. Durant played his final season with the Thunder in 2015-16, averaging 28.2 points per game before the team fell to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
Golden State Warriors (2016-2019)
On July 4, 2016, Durant announced his signing with the Golden State Warriors via The Player's Tribune. The move generated significant controversy as he joined a Warriors squad coming off a record-setting 73-win season. He officially signed on July 7 on a two-year, $54.3 million contract. During his debut season, Durant missed the final 19 games due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise. He returned for the 2017 playoffs and helped the Warriors advance to the Finals with a 12-0 start, the first in NBA history.
In the 2017 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Durant was the Warriors' top scorer in every game, averaging 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 55.5 percent from the field. He was named NBA Finals MVP. He won a second consecutive championship and Finals MVP Award in 2018, averaging 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in the Finals sweep. During the 2019 NBA Finals, Durant suffered a right Achilles tendon injury in Game 5 after returning from a calf strain, ending his Warriors tenure.
Brooklyn Nets (2019-2023)
Durant joined the Brooklyn Nets in July 2019 on a four-year, $164.3 million contract. He did not appear in any games during the 2019-20 season as he recovered from his Achilles injury. He made his Nets debut in December 2020 and formed a formidable trio with James Harden and Kyrie Irving. In Game 5 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, Durant recorded 49 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists in a comeback victory. In Game 7, he scored 48 points including a game-tying shot that was ruled a two-pointer due to his toe being on the line, and the Nets lost the series.
Durant played three full seasons with the Nets, consistently ranking among the league's top scorers. In March 2022, he became the 23rd player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points and later scored a career-high 55 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He requested a trade from the Nets in June 2022 but later rescinded his request after meeting with management.
Phoenix Suns (2023-2025)
On February 9, 2023, Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He made his Suns debut on March 1, scoring 23 points against the Charlotte Hornets. Despite limited appearances due to injuries, he helped the Suns finish with an 8-0 record in his eight games, averaging 26.0 points per game. In the 2023 playoffs, Durant led the Suns past the Los Angeles Clippers and pushed the Denver Nuggets to six games in the Western Conference Semifinals.
During the 2023-24 season, Durant averaged 27.1 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three-point range, and 85.6 percent from the free throw line. He became the 10th player in NBA history to reach 28,000 career points and passed Shaquille O'Neal for eighth place on the all-time scoring list. In February 2025, Durant achieved 30,000 career points. However, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in March, and the Suns finished 11th in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs.
Houston Rockets (2025-Present)
On July 6, 2025, Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets in a seven-team trade, the largest in NBA history. He made his Rockets debut on October 21 against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 23 points in a double-overtime loss. On October 19, 2025, Durant signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension with a player option for 2027-2028.
During the 2025-26 season, Durant continued his scoring prowess, becoming the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points. He surpassed Wilt Chamberlain for seventh place and Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place on the all-time scoring list. On February 26, he became the sixth player to reach 32,000 career points and tied Kobe Bryant for the fifth-most 30-point games in NBA history. He also became the first player to score at least 40 points in a regular-season game for five different franchises. On March 21, 2026, Durant passed Michael Jordan for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. The Rockets finished 52-30, clinching the fifth seed in the playoffs, where Durant made his Rockets playoff debut on April 21 after missing Game 1 with an injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Durant stands at 6 feet 11 inches with a 7-foot 4-inch wingspan, creating significant matchup problems for defenders. His height allows him to shoot over virtually any defender while maintaining guard-like ball-handling skills. He has won four NBA scoring titles and is regarded as one of the most efficient shooters in league history, joining the 50-40-90 club in 2013. His ability to score from anywhere on the court, whether isolation plays or off-ball movements, has made him an elite offensive weapon throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Durant has accumulated numerous records. He ranks fifth among NBA career scoring leaders and became the first player in NBA history to score 40 points in a regular-season game for five different teams. He is the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic men's basketball history with 518 career points. His most memorable performances include scoring 55 points against the Atlanta Hawks in 2022, a 49-point triple-double against Milwaukee in the 2021 playoffs, and multiple 50-point games throughout his career.
Kevin Wayne Durant Career Wins
Durant has accumulated an impressive collection of championships, individual awards, and statistical milestones throughout his 18-year NBA career. His scoring ability and consistency have made him one of the most decorated players in league history.
NBA Highlights
Durant is a two-time NBA champion (2017, 2018), winning back-to-back NBA Finals MVP Awards both years with the Golden State Warriors. He was named NBA Most Valuable Player in 2014 during his tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has won four NBA scoring titles (2010-2012, 2014) and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2008. His 15 NBA All-Star selections include two All-Star Game MVP Awards (2012, 2019). He has been named to 12 All-NBA teams (six First Teams and six Second Teams) and was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
International Achievements
As a member of the United States national team, Durant has won four Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), making him the first male athlete to win four Olympic gold medals in a team sport. He was named Olympics MVP and FIBA World Cup MVP in 2010 and 2020 respectively. He is the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic men's basketball history and holds numerous American Olympic records including points (518), points averaged (18.5), rebounds (137), and field goals made (173).
Kevin Wayne Durant Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Durant was raised primarily by his mother Wanda Durant and his grandmother Barbara Davis in Prince George's County, Maryland. His mother has remained a central figure in his life, and their relationship was chronicled in the Lifetime movie "The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story." Durant's father Wayne Pratt re-entered his life when Durant was 13 years old and traveled with him to basketball tournaments. He has maintained friendships with several of his AAU teammates, including Michael Beasley.
Personal Life
Durant is a Christian who attended Baptist schools and has religious tattoos on his stomach, wrist, and back. He was briefly engaged to WNBA player Monica Wright in 2013. Durant is known for his close relationship with his mother and his generosity in his hometown of Seat Pleasant, Maryland, which declared August 17, 2017 as Kevin Durant Day in his honor. He owns several businesses including Thirty Five Ventures (35V), a company he founded with business partner Rich Kleiman that produces the "Swagger" television series and various media content. In June 2020, he became a minority owner of Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. He is active on social media platforms and has expanded into various investments including technology companies and the Six Flags America property through 35V.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025-26 season with the Houston Rockets marked a new chapter in Durant's career following his mid-2025 trade in a historic seven-team deal. He signed a two-year, $90 million extension and quickly made his presence felt, scoring 23 points in his debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Throughout the season, Durant continued climbing the all-time scoring ladder, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan to claim fifth place on the NBA's career scoring list.
Durant demonstrated his scoring versatility by becoming the first player in NBA history to score at least 40 points in a regular-season game for five different franchises. He recorded multiple 40-point performances and achieved the 32,000 career points milestone while averaging over 26 points per game with the Rockets. His partnership with the team's young core showed promise as the Rockets secured the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 52-30 record.
The Rockets' first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers saw Durant make his debut in Game 2 after missing the opener due to injury. He contributed 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists but was unable to play the remaining games due to a right ankle sprain. Despite the playoff exit, Durant earned All-NBA Second Team honors, marking his 12th career All-NBA selection and making him the first player in NBA history to earn All-NBA honors with five different franchises. The 2025-26 season reinforced Durant's status as one of the most consistent and prolific scorers in NBA history as he continues his pursuit of additional championship success with the Rockets.