You could tell right away that he’d be one of the all-time greats. Now, even if he never plays a minute of professional basketball again, he’s a lock to make it to the Hall of Fame after just 12 seasons in the league. That’s just how good he is.
That’s why today we’re about to honor his outstanding career by walking you through his NBA journey step by step. So, if you’re a Kevin Durant fan, sit down and relax while we let you all there is to know about every single one of his awards and accolades:
2007-08
Via Getty
Kevin Durant played with a chip on his shoulder since he made it to the league. He was determined to prove the world that he should have been the first overall pick of the Draft, and it didn’t take him long before he put the league on notice.
Durant averaged an impressive 20.3 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.7 three-pointers per game on 43/28/87 shooting, winning the Rookie of the Year award by a long stretch.
Awards and accolades:
– Rookie of the Year
2008-2016
(via Wallpaper Flare)
Once the Seattle Supersonics franchise moved to Oklahoma City, Durant took his game even a step further. He quickly blossomed as one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league and turned the team into a perennial playoff contender.
Durant turned into an efficient volume scorer from beyond the arc. His defense and playmaking also improved significantly, thus making him a fan favorite and made it to 7 straight All-Star Games (with 1 All-Star Game MVP in 2012) after missing the cut on his first two seasons.
He also led the league in scoring 4 times (three straight), posting averages of 30+ points per game in two of those seasons, and earning the nod to represent Team USA in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, where he brought home a couple of gold medals.
If that wasn’t enough, his 2014 campaign ended up with an MVP award after averaging a league-high 32.0 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.4 triples, and 1.3 steals per game on 50/39/87 shooting and leading the Thunder to a 59-23 record.
Awards and accolades:
– MVP – 2x Gold Medal – 4x NBA Scoring champion – 7 All-Star Games
– All-Star MVP
2016-2019
Credit: USATSI
There was just one thing missing from Durant’s almost flawless resume: an NBA Championship. He came pretty close in 2012 but lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat and didn’t have another shot at making the Finals until 2016.
That’s why he decided to take his talents to the Golden State Warriors on a controversial move that granted him a lot of criticism around the league. Still, he stood put to his word and proved that he could even be the best player in the best team in the world.
Durant made the almighty Warriors even scarier. He made them better and didn’t settle for a free ride to the Finals, he took them there. That’s why he won back-to-back NBA Championships and two straight Finals MVP awards in just 3 seasons in the bay.
Needless to say, he also made it to the All-Star Game on every one of those seasons and even took home the All-Star MVP award in 2019.
Awards and accolades:
– 2x NBA Champion – 2x Finals MVP – 3 All-Star Games
– All-Star MVP
2019-2023
Credit: Getty Images
So now that he’s already a champion and doesn’t have anything to prove, Durant decided to join Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets for the next step of his career. Sadly, he hasn’t been able to play while he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Durant could enter the GOAT conversation if he led the Nets to a couple of championships and he knows it. He’s doing his own thing and developing a winning culture on a struggling franchise, proving that he doesn’t want to win the easy way.
So, after a one-year hiatus, the league will have to try and find a way to stop Durant once he’s back at full strength for the upcoming season. He’s now one of the best two-way players on earth and it’s going to be a pleasure seeing him hooping again.
2023-Now
The Blockbuster NBA transaction has the Suns receiving Kevin Durant and TJ Warren. Brooklyn Nets get Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, and several future Draft picks.
The Phoenix Suns have officially become the next NBA superteam with a late-night acquisition on Wednesday of Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant. The Nets, who just got rid of Kyrie Irving before the trade deadline, are now
in full rebuild mode. Especially after getting four 1st round picks from the Suns, and much more.
Just three days before NFL’s Super Bowl LVII takes place in Phoenix, the city’s NBA squad will feature superstars Devin Booker, Chris Paul… and KD himself.
The details of the Kevin Durant trade to Phoenix
The Phoenix Suns acquire:
Kevin Durant
TJ Warren
The Brooklyn Nets receive:
Mikal Bridges
Cam Johnson
Jae Crowder
4 1st-Round Picks
2028 pick swap
Will Kevin Durant be in attendance at Super Bowl LVII?
Will we see Kevin Durant in attendance for Super Bowl 57? State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, will host the big NFL final on Sunday Feb. 12th with the Eagles and Chiefs fighting for the Lombardi Trophy. Footprint Center, home of the Suns, is just 18 miles away…
As a big fan of music and the NFL, having KD present on Super Bowl Sunday and vibing to Rihanna during the Halftime show would be a surprise to no one. It would also be a great way to introduce him to the people of Phoenix.
