Sunday Biography: Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant was born on September 29, 1988. He was born and raised in Suitland, Maryland, which is just outside of Washington, D.C. He was born “Kevin Wayne Durant” just one of the four children of Wanda and Wayne Pratt. Kevin Durant signed with the university of Texas in Austin at the age of 18. Due to his extreme success, Kevin only played one season before entering the NBA draft in 2007. The Seattle SuperSonics selected Durant as the number two overall pick. During his six-year career so far Durant is a four-time NBA All-Star, and three time scoring champion.

Being born just outside of Washington D.C., Kevin is used to a very busy life, and being on the go all the time. This life pretty much sums up an NBA career. Durant was just one of the four kids in the Pratt family that loved sports. He grew up watching and playing the sport of basketball with his sister, Brianna, and his brothers Anthony and Rayvonne. Kevin’s grandmother, Barbara, was probably one of the most influential people in his life. Durant was always teased as a child in school for his height. His grandmother made him realize that his height was a blessing from God.

Durant started his successful career with the Jaguars, which is an AAU youth basketball team located in Maryland. Believe it or not, Kevin started as a point guard for the Jaguars. During his time with the team, they won two national championships. As you may know, Durant still wears number 35 on the court to this day. He wears the number 35 in honor of his AAU coach Charles Craig, who died at the age of 35.

Durant decided to sign with the Longhorns because of assistant coach Russell Springman. Springman, a Maryland native, had kept in touch with Kevin since his freshman year in high school. Durant started every game his freshman year of college and averaged 25.8 points per game and 11 rebounds per game in the 35 games they played that season. Durant received the Oscar Robertson and the Adolph F. Rupp awards that year, making him the first freshman to ever win both awards. Durant was then drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2007. He was selected to be a member of the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team and was named the Rookie of the Year as well. After the 2008 season the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City where he has since been selected as an all-star four times, and has won the NBA scoring title three times in a row. Durant has now led his team to a Western Conference Championship and to the NBA finals in 2012, and has received a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympic Games.