Before Kevin Durant would make a shocking return
to the 2019 finals, only to rupture his achilles after just 12 minutes of playing time.
Before Durant would win back to back NBA finals Championships and Finals MVP, joining the
company of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kobe Bryant.
Before making the NBA all star team every year for the past decade
Before Kevin would wear the number 35 to pay respects to Charles Craig, an old coach who
would be shot and killed at the age of 35.
Before Durant would have the NBA world eagerly await his decision opt in or out of the final
year of his contract with the Warriors
Before KD would inspire the meme, you da real MVP, which will forever be in the history
books of the internet
Kevin Durant's childhood inspired a Lifetime bio pick about his single mother raising her
two boys all alone in the mean streets of Washington D.C.
Kevin Durant was a kid from outside of Washington D.C. who dreamed of playing for the Toronto
Raptors cause when you were born in the late 80’s, the Raps were the new cool thing.
Although I'm not sure how he feels about that team today, especially after the Warriors
lost to our Toronto Raptors in 6 games.
OR Especially as the Warriors head to Toronto
for game 7 of this year’s NBA finals.
Competing in tournaments across the country by the time he was 13 it seemed the Kevin
was destined for the NBA training long and hard until 2007 where he was the 2nd Draft
pick by the Seattle SuperSonics.
KD has become a household name, winning back to back NBA titles and finals MVP awards with
the Golden State Warriors, going to the NBA all star game 10 years straight, winning a
gold medal at the 2012 & 2016 olympics, and being named the NBA MVP of 2014.
And of course, let’s not forget his trash talking with his good friend and Toronto’s
very own Drake.
But despite all of KD’s success, his title as the greatest in the game is often disputed,
when compared to another NBA all star, the one and only LeBron James.
I wanna know who you guys think is better all time KD or LBJ?
You gotta let me know in the comments down below.
What’s going on guys?
My name is Jarred Bronstein documenting the life and career of NBA All Star and Champion,
Kevin Durant here for you on Before They Were Famous and this is an updated video.
We just did a Rich Life on KD so be sure to check that out after this video.
We also covered most of the Raptors with recent uploads on Serge Ibaka and Spicy P, Piscal
Siakam and we made an epic video for the Toronto Raptors.
We even did one on the Raptors Super fan, Nav Bhatia!
Please keep sending in your requests for who to do next and I'll see you guys after the
intro.
Kevin Wayne Durant was born on September 29th 1988 in Suitland Maryland
His parents Wayne and Wanda Pratt were 22 and 21 years old when Kevin was born and they
already had Tony, Kevin’s older brother.
It was too much too young for Wayne, and when Kevin was just a year old, he left.
Kevin, Tony and their mother moved around a lot when Kevin was younger, money was tight
and KD was teased by kids at school because of his height.
God how I don’t miss school.
In his frustrations Kevin found his passion in basketball and began playing in an AAU
league for the Prince George Jaguars.
And just to prove how serious of a league the AAU is for those of you that don’t know,
it’s helped create NBA stars such as Kevin Love, Isaiah Thomas, and Durant’s longtime
friend Michael Beasley who he's known since he was 11 years old.
After realizing that the NBA was his dream career Kevin and his mother approached his
Jaguars coach Terrace Brown to develop a program to strengthen Kevin’s talents.
He trained daily at the Seat Pleasant Activity Centre and while his friends played pickup
games Kevin practiced drill after drill, banned by his coach and mother from playing any unregulated
games.
And it’s safe to say that was the right decision.
Because while his friends we’re just messing around, Kevin was putting in the work to make
him the player he is today.
At this time Kevin’s father Wayne had reentered his life and was doing his best to support
him.
I know it probably doesnt sound like the best situation.
Walked out on when he’s a baby, and then reappears in his life when it looks like he’s
got a shot at making it to the NBA.
Not 100% on this one, if you guys find something better totally feel free to use?
But it really seems like he’s not in it for the money, to this day it seems Kevin
and Papa Durant are closer than ever and when it came to Kevin’s training he let Terrace
and Mama Durant call the shots.
Although, Wayne did play a role when KD decided to sign with the Warriors back in 2016, advising
his son to “be selfish”
Kevin’s training was intense, he was running drills on drills on drills, pass and shoots,
turnaround jumpers, defensive shuffles every day for six years straight, eight hours a
day in the summer.
All of this was on top of his homework and playing for his high school team at the time.
I imagine his training looked something like this.
And if Kevin gave the least bit of attitude or wasn’t giving his all Terrace would stop
the drills.
So that Kevin could do runs up a 150 foot hill outside the centre.
And if his mom showed up and found out he wasn’t committing himself, she’d double
the amount of runs he had to do.
In the moment, Kev probably didn’t appreciate it, but looking back, worth every second.
Now some might say Wanda was a little tough on her son, but it turned him into the player
he is today.
She would even sit there and read a book until he was done his runs.
Damn that’s tough love, but with good intentions?
By constantly training and getting better at the game, year after year and measuring
in at 6 foot 7 by his senior year, Kevin Durant was a name known to scouts across the United
States.
For his final year of high school Kevin attended Montrose Christian Academy, playing for their
school team the Mustangs with another future NBA player, Greivis Vasquez (grave-is).
The Mustangs had an amazing season, beating their rivals Oak Hill for the championship
in front thousands of fans.
To this day it’s known as one of the greatest games in high school basketball history, just
look at Kevin dunking on everyone.
What an animal.
This victory was just the beginning, that same year Kevin was selected to play in the
Mcdonald's and the Jordan Brand All American Classic where he received Co-MVP at both.
Kevin was hot and the NBA couldn’t wait to get their hands on the guy but due to the
new draft rule to prevent players from being drafted straight out of high school they had
to wait.
Kevin spent his waiting period playing for Texas University, and everyone knew it wouldn’t
be long before KD decided he was ready for the big leagues.
After just one year of playing for the Longhorns in the 06-07 season, Durant would have his
#35 retired.
He would also win plenty of awards, including National Player of the Year, the Naismith
College Player of the Year award, Big 12 Player of the Year, and 6 other awards.
When his year was up, Kevin chose to go to the NBA.
Kevin was the number 2 draft pick for 2007 the first in a long line of second places
that would haunt his career.
He was drafted to the Seattle Supersonics and when it came to points he was a beast
At the end of the season Kevin not only won Rookie of the year but he also became one
of only three teenagers to score at least 20 points per game for an entire season in
the history of the NBA.
The only other two being Carmelo Anthony and you guessed it,
For the 2008/2009 season the Sonics became the Thunder and moved to Oklahoma City where
Kevin would make a home for himself.
For the next 8 years Kevin continued to rack up the points each game and with every season
became more and more a leader for the team to follow.
In his first year in Oklahoma he would have a career high .422 3 point shooting percentage,
and would lead the league in average points per game from 2009 until 2012.
Although in 2013 he wouldn’t continue the streak of most average points per game, he’d
regain the total in the 2013-2014 season.
In 2010 Kevin was selected to play in the first of many NBA All Star games and in 2012
he was picked to represent America at the 2012 London Olympic games along with teammates
Carmel Anthony, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and fellow OKC teammate Russel Westbrook.
The team won, to no surprise because what a stacked team, getting Kevin a gold medal.
he recently won a second in 2016 and now he has two, just like
That same year Kevin decided to expand his skills off the court and starred in the kid’s
movie Thunderstuck.
Although Thunderstruck only made just over a half a million dollars at the box office
and has a 20% rating on rotten tomatoes, at least he’s done something LeBron hasn’t
done.
Yet.
In case you haven’t heard, Lebron James is going to star in Space Jam 2 set to hit
theatres in 2021.
So enjoy it while you can Kev.
In 2013 Kevin was a pretty busy boy.
He opened a restaurant called KD’s Southern Cuisine in Oklahoma City, got engaged to WNBA
player Monica Wright and left his agents to sign with Jay Z’s agency Roc Nation Sports.
Now since then Kevin closed the restaurant when he moved to California and his engagement
to Monica ended due to “lifestyle conflicts” the following year whatever that means, but
he’s still with Roc Nation so it’s good to know one of these things lasted.
In 2014, after 6 years in the NBA, Kevin was awarded League MVP averaging 35.9 points a
game and breaking Michael Jordan’s record after scoring 25 points or more for 41 consecutive
games.
At the ceremony Kevin game a touching speech thanking not only his teammate and fans but
his mother.
I’m a huge mama’s boy so that really got me.
Mom if youre watch, you da real MVP.
Kevin’s words brought both him and his mom to tears, got a standing ovation and of course,
as we all know, birthed one of the greatest memes of all time.
Kevin has since shocked the NBA community after leaving the Thunder to sign a 54.3 million
dollar contract with the Golden State Warriors.
As you all know he would go on to win multiple NBA championships, MVP awards and en route
to a third championship, tear his Achilles.
As of now, its yet to be determined wether or not KD will opt in or out of his final
year with the Warriors.
The road to recovery is going to be a long one, but Kevin is in good spirits posting
this picture after a successful surgery.
At the time of the recording there is speculation KD is going to miss the entire 2019-2020 season.
Other players who have suffered such a brutal injury include Demarcus Cousins, Rudy Gy,
Kobe Bryant, Chauncey Billups and Wesley Matthews.
The average amount of recovery time it took for those 5 players was 280 days.
As for the rest of the story, we will just have to wait and see because this is Before
They Were Famous.
You guys gotta let me know in the comment below if you think KD will stay with the Warriors
or if another team will offer a long term contract.
Im your host Jarred Bronstein, catch me on instagram @bronst7 and well see you in the
next one.