{"id":20903,"date":"2021-06-16T07:47:17","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T12:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20903"},"modified":"2021-06-16T13:49:07","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T18:49:07","slug":"one-of-the-all-time-greats-kevin-durant-puts-in-historic-performance-as-brooklyn-nets-beat-milwaukee-bucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20903","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;One of the all-time greats&#8217;: Kevin Durant puts in historic performance as Brooklyn Nets beat Milwaukee Bucks, Kevin Durant&#8217;s dazzling Game 5 was a show worthy of the NBA&#8217;s greatest player"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"dcr-1nupfq9\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-13a2edo\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-125vfar\">Durant\u2019s historic 49-point triple-double helps Nets to playoff lead over Bucks<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-zjgnrw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1n6tql0\" data-print-layout=\"hide\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brooklyn lead best-of-seven series 3-2 after Tuesday\u2019s victory<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Nets have been dealing with injuries to key players<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-pn0kqp\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-16n5mgq\">\n<figure id=\"b110d3d4-922e-4565-9332-3962d253141e\" class=\"dcr-13udsys\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1b267dg\"><strong><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=afb9e14667f07621cc4b19da203a544c 1240w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=f376772be8ec892c2568dbd0a8ac106d 1210w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=71a3f8565f804adb5ab2d5918a44e88e 890w\" media=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c7f2901676c57992676cce302c530668 620w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=d1d0354beaa6b0ce8b81b9752c5dbb91 605w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=722aa6ba21eaec84c0c3faed51b5e714 445w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"dcr-1989ovb\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b685820d9f175f36d02b69ba195a8e4814b73d60\/0_13_1720_1032\/master\/1720.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=71a3f8565f804adb5ab2d5918a44e88e\" alt=\"Kevin Durant was almost unstoppable against the Bucks on Tuesday night\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-pn0kqp\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-16n5mgq\">\n<figure id=\"b110d3d4-922e-4565-9332-3962d253141e\" class=\"dcr-13udsys\"><figcaption class=\"dcr-d5sshu\"><strong><span class=\"dcr-1u9p6vd\">Kevin Durant was almost unstoppable against the Bucks on Tuesday night. <\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-185kcx9\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11wf66m\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-bjn8wh\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/brooklyn-nets\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a> needed much more than points Tuesday night, so Kevin Durant gave them one of the most spectacular performances in postseason history.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>Durant had 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, sending the Nets back into the lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 114-108 victory over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/milwaukee-bucks\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> in Game 5.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>\u201cI know the perception of me is that I can score the basketball well, but any team that I\u2019ve played on, I\u2019ve been asked to do pretty much everything from rebounding to defending to initiating to scoring,\u201d Durant said. \u201cI might not do it all the time but I do a little bit of everything.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>In Game 5, it was a whole lot of everything. The two-time <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/nba\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">NBA<\/a> finals MVP became the first player to have at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>\u201cHistoric, historic performance,\u201d Nets coach Steve Nash said.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>With James Harden returning but delivering little offense and Kyrie Irving out, Durant played all 48 minutes and shot 16 for 23 from the field. The four-time scoring champion had 20 points in the fourth quarter, perhaps the biggest shot a three-pointer with 50 seconds left and the Nets protecting a one-point lead.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"448dafa1-6437-457a-968d-f20f88b67a87\" class=\"dcr-1mfia18\">\n<div class=\"css-mozjxl\" data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-0 | 0\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"\">\n<div class=\"css-s7oxzu\">\n<div class=\"css-1m5f2q7\"><\/div>\n<div><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-q4dzvk\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/341cf61784caf2bd27f6b7d5d0bda631caad6cab\/0_76_4620_2772\/master\/4620.jpg?width=460&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=2267ea7b78cea5e970133536992e7522\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1d91meq\">\n<div class=\"css-m4qltb\">\n<div class=\"css-1gqsble\"><strong>Breathtaking Kawhi Leonard dunk helps Clippers tie playoff series with Jazz<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-10wr03c\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-11wf66m\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-bjn8wh\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>\u201cThe injuries that he\u2019s been through, to come back even from the Achilles to the hamstring to get back in this position, the world is witnessing, once again, who is the best player in the world,\u201d Nets forward Jeff Green said.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>There was no argument from the Bucks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"2d1aa98e-e228-4f2f-8f55-156cea8ecb97\" class=\"dcr-10khgmf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-eg3oz7\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><strong>A 49-point triple-double. Just incredible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udcfc <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KDTrey5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KDTrey5<\/a> \ud83d\udcfc <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nRNmDN2qaC\">pic.twitter.com\/nRNmDN2qaC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrooklynNets\/status\/1405013514167668737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 16, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>\u201cHe\u2019s the best player in the world right now and we\u2019ve got to beat him as a team,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to guard him as a team. We\u2019ve got to make him make tough shots like tonight. We\u2019ve just got to keep doing our job and hopefully he\u2019s going to miss.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>Harden played for the first time since leaving 43 seconds into the series opener with right hamstring tightness. He shot just one for 10 and missed all eight of his three-pointers, but had eight assists and six rebounds while playing 46 minutes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1b5a2hj\"><strong>\u201cI woke up and was like, \u2018You know what? Let\u2019s go,\u2019\u201d Harden said. \u201cI tried to go out there and do the best I can. Hopefully I gave my teammates some encouragement and some life.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slot-body-end\">\n<div class=\"css-pc1kq1\">\n<section class=\"css-jjd5tl\">\n<div class=\"css-1qm1lh\">\n<div class=\"css-1r55tqu\">\n<div class=\"css-1v7zkid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"dcr-11qyv6o\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1lxcenw\">\n<footer class=\"dcr-wuq7e5\" data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"footer\" data-component=\"footer\">\n<div class=\"dcr-3ub84c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-v7ptng\">\n<h1 class=\"pg-headline\"><strong>&#8216;One of the all-time greats&#8217;: Kevin Durant puts in historic performance as Brooklyn Nets beat Milwaukee Bucks<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div class=\"el__leafmedia el__leafmedia--sourced-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"zn-body__paragraph speakable\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_A8B20651-B97B-6743-CF68-13D4458A12C4\"><strong><cite class=\"el-editorial-source\"> (CNN)<\/cite>On the back of two straight losses, without his fellow star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/05\/31\/sport\/kyrie-irving-nba-fans-human-zoo-spt-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kyrie Irving<\/a> and with a just returning from injury <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/06\/08\/sport\/brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-nba-playoffs-spt-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Harden<\/a>, Kevin Durant once again showed why he&#8217;s one of the best in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/06\/14\/sport\/nikola-jokic-ejection-phoenix-suns-denver-nuggets-nba-playoffs-spt-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBA<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_73FC3062-0D98-4B14-3B90-13E53D824C04\"><strong>On Tuesday night, he scored 49 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and dished out 10 assists to help his Brooklyn Nets come back and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-108 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference semifinals.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_2A189012-6B64-E265-A3FB-13E53D86F05D\"><strong>In doing so, Durant <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1405004220001095681?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">became<\/a> the first player in NBA history to record at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_2A189012-6B64-E265-A3FB-13E53D86F05D\">\n<h1 id=\"firstHeading\" class=\"firstHeading\"><strong>Kevin Durant<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id=\"bodyContent\" class=\"vector-body\">\n<div id=\"mw-content-text\" class=\"mw-body-content mw-content-ltr\" dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\n<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\n<table class=\"infobox vcard\">\n<caption class=\"infobox-title fn summary\"><strong>Kevin Durant<\/strong><\/caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-image\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Kevin_Durant_(Wizards_v._Warriors,_1-24-2019)_(cropped).jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Kevin_Durant_%28Wizards_v._Warriors%2C_1-24-2019%29_%28cropped%29.jpg\/220px-Kevin_Durant_%28Wizards_v._Warriors%2C_1-24-2019%29_%28cropped%29.jpg\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Kevin_Durant_%28Wizards_v._Warriors%2C_1-24-2019%29_%28cropped%29.jpg\/330px-Kevin_Durant_%28Wizards_v._Warriors%2C_1-24-2019%29_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Kevin_Durant_%28Wizards_v._Warriors%2C_1-24-2019%29_%28cropped%29.jpg\/440px-Kevin_Durant_%28Wizards_v._Warriors%2C_1-24-2019%29_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x\" alt=\"Kevin Durant (Wizards v. Warriors, 1-24-2019) (cropped).jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"337\" data-file-width=\"872\" data-file-height=\"1336\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"infobox-caption\"><strong>Durant with the <a title=\"Golden State Warriors\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_State_Warriors\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> in 2019<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>No. 7 \u2013 Brooklyn Nets<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Position<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data role\"><strong><a title=\"Small forward\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Small_forward\">Small forward<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>League<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"National Basketball Association\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Basketball_Association\">NBA<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Personal information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Born<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>September 29, 1988<span class=\"noprint ForceAgeToShow\"> (age\u00a032)<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><a title=\"Washington, D.C.\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Washington,_D.C.\">Washington, D.C.<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Nationality<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>American<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Listed height<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>6\u00a0ft 10\u00a0in (2.08\u00a0m)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Listed weight<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>240\u00a0lb (109\u00a0kg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>High school<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data plainlist\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>National Christian Academy<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>(<a title=\"Fort Washington, Maryland\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fort_Washington,_Maryland\">Fort Washington, Maryland<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oak_Hill_Academy_(Virginia)\">Oak Hill Academy<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>(<a title=\"Mouth of Wilson, Virginia\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mouth_of_Wilson,_Virginia\">Mouth of Wilson, Virginia<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Montrose Christian School\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Montrose_Christian_School\">Montrose Christian School<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>(<a title=\"Rockville, Maryland\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rockville,_Maryland\">Rockville, Maryland<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>College<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data plainlist\"><strong><a title=\"Texas Longhorns men's basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Texas_Longhorns_men%27s_basketball\">Texas<\/a> (2006\u20132007)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"NBA draft\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_draft\">NBA draft<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"2007 NBA draft\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007_NBA_draft\">2007<\/a> \/ Round: 1 \/ Pick: 2nd overall<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Selected by the <a title=\"Seattle SuperSonics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seattle_SuperSonics\">Seattle SuperSonics<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Playing career<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>2007\u2013present<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career history<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"2007\u201308 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007%E2%80%9308_NBA_season\">2007<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"2015\u201316 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2015%E2%80%9316_NBA_season\">2016<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"Seattle SuperSonics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seattle_SuperSonics\">Seattle SuperSonics<\/a> \/<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><a title=\"Oklahoma City Thunder\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oklahoma_City_Thunder\">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"2016\u201317 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016%E2%80%9317_NBA_season\">2016<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"2018\u201319 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018%E2%80%9319_NBA_season\">2019<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"Golden State Warriors\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_State_Warriors\">Golden State Warriors<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"2019\u201320 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2019%E2%80%9320_NBA_season\">2019<\/a>\u2013present<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"Brooklyn Nets\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brooklyn_Nets\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career highlights and awards<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"List of NBA champions\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NBA_champions\">NBA champion<\/a> (<a title=\"2017 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_NBA_Finals\">2017<\/a>, <a title=\"2018 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_NBA_Finals\">2018<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Finals MVP<\/a> (<a title=\"2017 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_NBA_Finals\">2017<\/a>, <a title=\"2018 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_NBA_Finals\">2018<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"NBA Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Most Valuable Player<\/a> (<a title=\"2013\u201314 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013%E2%80%9314_NBA_season\">2014<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>11\u00d7 <a title=\"List of NBA All-Stars\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NBA_All-Stars\">NBA All-Star<\/a> (<a title=\"2010 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_NBA_All-Star_Game\">2010<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"2019 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2019_NBA_All-Star_Game\">2019<\/a>, <a title=\"2021 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2021_NBA_All-Star_Game\">2021<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA All-Star Game MVP<\/a> (<a title=\"2012 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_NBA_All-Star_Game\">2012<\/a>, <a title=\"2019 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2019_NBA_All-Star_Game\">2019<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>6\u00d7 <a title=\"All-NBA Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_Team\">All-NBA First Team<\/a> (<a title=\"2009\u201310 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2009%E2%80%9310_NBA_season\">2010<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"2013\u201314 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013%E2%80%9314_NBA_season\">2014<\/a>, <a title=\"2017\u201318 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017%E2%80%9318_NBA_season\">2018<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>3\u00d7 <a title=\"All-NBA Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_Team\">All-NBA Second Team<\/a> (<a title=\"2015\u201316 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2015%E2%80%9316_NBA_season\">2016<\/a>, <a title=\"2016\u201317 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016%E2%80%9317_NBA_season\">2017<\/a>, <a title=\"2018\u201319 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018%E2%80%9319_NBA_season\">2019<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"NBA Rookie of the Year Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Rookie_of_the_Year_Award\">NBA Rookie of the Year<\/a> (<a title=\"2007\u201308 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007%E2%80%9308_NBA_season\">2008<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Rookie First Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Rookie_First_Team\">NBA All-Rookie First Team<\/a> (<a title=\"2007\u201308 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007%E2%80%9308_NBA_season\">2008<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>4\u00d7 <a title=\"List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_annual_scoring_leaders\">NBA scoring champion<\/a> (<a title=\"2009\u201310 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2009%E2%80%9310_NBA_season\">2010<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"2011\u201312 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2011%E2%80%9312_NBA_season\">2012<\/a>, <a title=\"2013\u201314 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013%E2%80%9314_NBA_season\">2014<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"50\u201340\u201390 club\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/50%E2%80%9340%E2%80%9390_club\">50\u201340\u201390 club<\/a> (<a title=\"2012\u201313 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012%E2%80%9313_NBA_season\">2013<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Consensus <a title=\"List of U.S. men's college basketball national player of the year awards\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_U.S._men%27s_college_basketball_national_player_of_the_year_awards\">national college player of the year<\/a> (<a title=\"2006\u201307 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2006%E2%80%9307_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_season\">2007<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Consensus first-team <a title=\"NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans\">All-American<\/a> (<a title=\"2007 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007_NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans\">2007<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Big_12_Conference_Men%27s_Basketball_Player_of_the_Year\">Big 12 Player of the Year<\/a> (2007)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>No. 35 <a title=\"Texas Longhorns men's basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Texas_Longhorns_men%27s_basketball#Retired_numbers\">retired by Texas Longhorns<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"FIBA Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Player\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FIBA_Basketball_World_Cup_Most_Valuable_Player\">FIBA World Championship MVP<\/a> (<a title=\"2010 FIBA World Championship\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_FIBA_World_Championship\">2010<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/USA_Basketball_Male_Athlete_of_the_Year\">USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year<\/a> (2010, 2016)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"McDonald's All-American Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/McDonald%27s_All-American_Game\">McDonald&#8217;s All-American Game<\/a> MVP (<a title=\"2006 McDonald's All-American Boys Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2006_McDonald%27s_All-American_Boys_Game\">2006<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>First-team <a title=\"Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parade_All-America_Boys_Basketball_Team\"><i>Parade<\/i> All-American<\/a> (2006)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Second-team <i>Parade<\/i> All-American (2005)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/player\/201142\" rel=\"nofollow\">Stats<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Edit this at Wikidata\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q29545#P3647\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Edit this at Wikidata\" width=\"10\" height=\"10\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" \/><\/a> at NBA.com<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Stats<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Edit this at Wikidata\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q29545#P2685\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Edit this at Wikidata\" width=\"10\" height=\"10\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" \/><\/a> at Basketball-Reference.com<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-below\" colspan=\"2\">\n<div class=\"mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<table class=\"infobox vcard\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-below\" colspan=\"2\">\n<div class=\"mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible\">\n<div>\n<div><strong>Medals<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mw-collapsible-content\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\"><strong>Men&#8217;s <a title=\"Basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball\">basketball<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"adr\" colspan=\"3\"><strong>Representing <span class=\"country-name\"><span class=\"flagicon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumbborder\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/35px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/46px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"23\" height=\"12\" data-file-width=\"1235\" data-file-height=\"650\" \/>\u00a0<\/span><a title=\"United States men's national basketball team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_men%27s_national_basketball_team\">United States<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\"><strong><a title=\"Basketball at the Summer Olympics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics\">Olympics<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/16px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/24px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/32px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" data-file-width=\"16\" data-file-height=\"16\" \/><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span class=\"nowrap\"><a title=\"Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics \u2013 Men's tournament\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_tournament\">2012 London<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><a title=\"2012 United States men's Olympic basketball team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team\">Team<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/16px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/24px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/32px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" data-file-width=\"16\" data-file-height=\"16\" \/><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span class=\"nowrap\"><a title=\"Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics \u2013 Men's tournament\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_tournament\">2016 Rio de Janeiro<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><a title=\"2016 United States men's Olympic basketball team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team\">Team<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\"><strong><a title=\"FIBA Basketball World Cup\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FIBA_Basketball_World_Cup\">World Championship\/World Cup<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/16px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/24px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/32px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" data-file-width=\"16\" data-file-height=\"16\" \/><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span class=\"nowrap\"><a title=\"2010 FIBA World Championship\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_FIBA_World_Championship\">2010 Turkey<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><a title=\"2010 United States men's FIBA World Championship team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_United_States_men%27s_FIBA_World_Championship_team\">Team<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-20904\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/k-d-nets-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/k-d-nets-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/k-d-nets.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kevin Wayne Durant (<span class=\"rt-commentedText nowrap\"><span class=\"IPA nopopups noexcerpt\"><a title=\"Help:IPA\/English\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:IPA\/English\">\/<span title=\"'d' in 'dye'\">d<\/span><span title=\"\/\u025c\u02d0r\/: 'ur' in 'fur'\">\u025c\u02d0r<\/span><span title=\"\/\u02c8\/: primary stress follows\">\u02c8<\/span><span title=\"\/\u00e6\/: 'a' in 'bad'\">\u00e6<\/span><span title=\"'n' in 'nigh'\">n<\/span><span title=\"'t' in 'tie'\">t<\/span>\/<\/a><\/span><\/span>; born September 29, 1988), also known simply by his initials KD, is an American professional <a title=\"Basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball\">basketball<\/a> player for the <a title=\"Brooklyn Nets\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brooklyn_Nets\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a> of the <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Basketball_Association\">National Basketball Association<\/a> (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the <a title=\"Texas Longhorns men's basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Texas_Longhorns_men%27s_basketball\">University of Texas<\/a>, and was selected as the second overall pick by the <a title=\"Seattle SuperSonics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seattle_SuperSonics\">Seattle SuperSonics<\/a> in the <a title=\"2007 NBA draft\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007_NBA_draft\">2007 NBA draft<\/a>. He played nine seasons with the franchise, which became the <a title=\"Oklahoma City Thunder\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oklahoma_City_Thunder\">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> in 2008, before signing with the <a title=\"Golden State Warriors\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_State_Warriors\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> in 2016, winning back-to-back championships in <a title=\"2016\u201317 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016%E2%80%9317_NBA_season\">2017<\/a> and <a title=\"2017\u201318 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017%E2%80%9318_NBA_season\">2018<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Durant was a heavily recruited high school prospect who was widely regarded as the second-best player in his class. In college, he won numerous year-end awards and became the first freshman to be named <a title=\"Naismith College Player of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Naismith_College_Player_of_the_Year\">Naismith College Player of the Year<\/a>. As a professional, he has won two <a title=\"List of NBA champions\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NBA_champions\">NBA championships<\/a>, an <a title=\"NBA Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Most Valuable Player Award<\/a>, two <a title=\"NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">Finals MVP Awards<\/a>, two <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards<\/a>, four <a title=\"List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_annual_scoring_leaders\">NBA scoring titles<\/a>, the <a title=\"NBA Rookie of the Year Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Rookie_of_the_Year_Award\">NBA Rookie of the Year Award<\/a>, and two <a title=\"Basketball at the Summer Olympics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics\">Olympic gold medals<\/a>. Durant has also been selected to nine <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"All-NBA\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA\">All-NBA<\/a> teams and eleven <a title=\"List of NBA All-Stars\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NBA_All-Stars\">NBA All-Star<\/a> teams.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Off the court, Durant is one of the highest-earning basketball players in the world, due in part to endorsement deals with companies such as <a title=\"Foot Locker\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foot_Locker\">Foot Locker<\/a> and <a title=\"Nike, Inc.\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nike,_Inc.\">Nike<\/a>. He has developed a reputation for philanthropy and regularly leads the league in All-Star votes and jersey sales. In recent years, he has contributed to <i><a title=\"The Players' Tribune\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Players%27_Tribune\">The Players&#8217; Tribune<\/a><\/i> as both a photographer and writer. In 2012, he ventured into acting, appearing in the film <i><a title=\"Thunderstruck (2012 film)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thunderstruck_(2012_film)\">Thunderstruck<\/a><\/i>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-v7ptng\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--epic ad--tablet\" data-ad-text=\"show\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"ad_nat_btf_01\" data-ad-position=\"tablet\" data-ad-refresh=\"default\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--epic ad--desktop\" data-ad-text=\"show\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"ad_nat_btf_01\" data-ad-position=\"desktop\" data-ad-refresh=\"default\">\n<div id=\"ad_nat_btf_01\" class=\"ad-ad_nat_btf_01 ad-refresh-default\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_5AF6AE9A-642B-447A-26AD-13E53D882EDF\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-14957\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kd-w-300x191.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kd-w-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kd-w-768x488.png 768w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kd-w-1024x651.png 1024w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kd-w-1080x687.png 1080w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kd-w.png 1211w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"pg-right-rail-tall pg-wrapper \">\n<article class=\"pg-rail-tall pg-rail--align-right \">\n<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"pg-rail-tall__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"pg-side-of-rail pg-rail-tall__side\">\n<div class=\"pg-rail-tall__body\">\n<section id=\"body-text\" class=\"zn zn-body-text zn-body zn--idx-0 zn--ordinary zn-has-multiple-containers zn-has-29-containers\" data-eq-pts=\"xsmall: 0, medium: 460, large: 780, full16x9: 1100\" data-vr-zone=\"zone-1-0\" data-zone-label=\"bodyText\" data-containers=\"29\" data-zn-id=\"body-text\" data-eq-state=\"xsmall medium large\">\n<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_5AF6AE9A-642B-447A-26AD-13E53D882EDF\"><strong>Nets head coach Steve Nash paid homage to Durant&#8217;s performance in New York, calling it a &#8220;historic, historic performance.&#8221;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_64E4109D-D508-AB49-2856-13E53D8A90DB\"><strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s ridiculous what he&#8217;s able to do,&#8221; Nash <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/nets\/news\/sidebar\/2021\/06\/15\/nets-notes-kevin-durant-makes-extraordinary-routine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>. &#8220;We know he&#8217;s capable of nights like this, but to do it tonight &#8230; we lose [Irving], James obviously is going through his ailments, we&#8217;re down bodies, we&#8217;re wounded. And for him to have that toughness, that mentality, that&#8217;s what makes him one of the all-time greats.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__read-all\">\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_33CE80E9-8EA2-AE89-9181-13E53D8D43ED\"><strong>&#8220;This is a performance that&#8217;s a signature performance for Kevin, and it was beautiful to watch.&#8221;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"el__embedded el__embedded--fullwidth\">\n<div class=\"el__image--fullwidth js__image--fullwidth\">\n<div><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image media__image--responsive\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhEAAJAJEAAAAAAP\/\/\/\/\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAQAAkAAAIKlI+py+0Po5yUFQA7\" alt=\"Durant celebrates after sinking a three-pointer against the Milwaukee Bucks.\" data-src-mini=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-small-169.jpg\" data-src-xsmall=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-medium-plus-169.jpg\" data-src-small=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-large-169.jpg\" data-src-medium=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" data-src-large=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-super-169.jpg\" data-src-full16x9=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-full-169.jpg\" data-src-mini1x1=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-small-11.jpg\" data-demand-load=\"loaded\" data-eq-pts=\"mini: 0, xsmall: 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781\" data-eq-state=\"mini xsmall small medium\" data-src=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022647-01-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" data-lazy-img-observe=\"true\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20756\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/kd.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"172\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_0E707EE3-23A1-2F13-01F0-13E556615F1A\">\n<h3><strong>All on him<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_316328A3-342C-103E-C0C1-13E53D923376\"><strong>After Irving suffered an ankle injury in Game Four and with Harden making his first appearance since injuring his hamstring in Game One, it looked from the outset like Durant might have to carry the load for the Nets.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_675ED71E-399F-1FD8-D8FA-13E53DCB3841\"><strong>And with the spotlight on him, he put in one of the NBA Playoffs&#8217; greatest ever performances.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_9BB82F2F-3167-DCE4-A8C6-13E53DCC0A61\"><strong>The 32-year-old played all 48 minutes of the game, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsCenter\/status\/1405001094292553728?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">becoming<\/a> the first player since LeBron James in 2018 to play every minute of a playoff game.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_A8F3B12C-98DB-9D9B-CF8C-13E53DCE7EE0\"><strong>He also set a Nets franchise record for points in a playoff game, surpassing Vince Carter&#8217;s mark of 43 set 15 years ago.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"el__embedded el__embedded--fullwidth\">\n<div class=\"el__image--fullwidth js__image--fullwidth\">\n<div><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image media__image--responsive\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhEAAJAJEAAAAAAP\/\/\/\/\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAQAAkAAAIKlI+py+0Po5yUFQA7\" alt=\"Jeff Green celebrates Durant&amp;#39;s three against the Bucks.\" data-src-mini=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-small-169.jpg\" data-src-xsmall=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-medium-plus-169.jpg\" data-src-small=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-large-169.jpg\" data-src-medium=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" data-src-large=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-super-169.jpg\" data-src-full16x9=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-full-169.jpg\" data-src-mini1x1=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-small-11.jpg\" data-demand-load=\"loaded\" data-eq-pts=\"mini: 0, xsmall: 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781\" data-eq-state=\"mini xsmall small medium\" data-src=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022649-02-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" data-lazy-img-observe=\"true\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_D78C6240-8EA7-5AA9-6F6E-13ED614E8CED\"><strong>With the help of Jeff Green&#8217;s 27 points, Durant was able to drag the Nets back from a 17-point third quarter deficit.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_59D3455A-FF8B-3C13-9380-13E53DD2C22C\"><strong>Among a whole host of NBA stars to take to Twitter to praise Durant was four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James who <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KingJames\/status\/1404998418640957446?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>: &#8220;GREATNESS!! Appreciate it while you can people!&#8221;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_31DDF535-6F1A-03F8-2513-13E53DD34016\"><strong>Even Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is a two-time MVP award winner, could do nothing but praise Durant afterwards.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_701FAC6E-D855-D605-EFC1-13E53DD5F198\"><strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s tough. He&#8217;s the best player in the world right now, and we&#8217;ve got to beat him as a team,&#8221; he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/bucks\/play#\/video\/teams%2Fbucks%2F2021%2F06%2F15%2F353043%2F1623817484894-Giannis-Media-G5_16x9-353043\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> the media post-game.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"el__embedded el__embedded--fullwidth\">\n<div class=\"el__image--fullwidth js__image--fullwidth\">\n<div>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image media__image--responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" alt=\"Bucks center Brook Lopez attempts to defend Durant.\" data-src-mini=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-small-169.jpg\" data-src-xsmall=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-medium-plus-169.jpg\" data-src-small=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-large-169.jpg\" data-src-medium=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" data-src-large=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-super-169.jpg\" data-src-full16x9=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-full-169.jpg\" data-src-mini1x1=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-small-11.jpg\" data-demand-load=\"loaded\" data-eq-pts=\"mini: 0, xsmall: 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781\" data-eq-state=\"mini xsmall small medium\" data-src=\"\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/210616022702-03-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-exlarge-169.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img__preloader\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"media__caption el__gallery_image-title\">\n<div class=\"element-raw appearance-fullwidth\"><strong>Bucks center Brook Lopez attempts to defend Durant.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_7D1FD290-4E38-7FCD-9820-13ECB949C429\"><strong>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to guard him as a team, and we&#8217;ve got to make him make tough shots, like tonight, and we&#8217;ve just got to keep doing our job, and hopefully he&#8217;s going to miss. But we&#8217;ve got to keep doing our job, keep guarding together, keep showing help, keep making it tough, keep picking him up full court.&#8221;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\" data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_D2A41A8E-7021-1C04-FFFF-13E53DDAF472\"><strong>The victory means that the Nets lead the best-of-seven playoff series 3-2, with Game Six taking place in Milwaukee on Thursday and the Nets a win away from their first Eastern Conference finals since 2003.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-paragraph-id=\"paragraph_D2A41A8E-7021-1C04-FFFF-13E53DDAF472\">\n<div id=\"attachment_14201\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14201\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14201\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/r960-n_7a337ac84428c42871f79b32e3bd6f7c-KD-300x233.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/r960-n_7a337ac84428c42871f79b32e3bd6f7c-KD-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/r960-n_7a337ac84428c42871f79b32e3bd6f7c-KD-768x595.jpg 768w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/r960-n_7a337ac84428c42871f79b32e3bd6f7c-KD.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-14201\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/strong> <strong>Oklahoma City&#8217;s Kevin Durant (35) and Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate in the first half during Game 5 of the first round series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 25, 2016.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<header class=\"article-header\">\n<h1><strong>Kevin Durant reminded the world that he&#8217;s capable of anything on the court<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<figure class=\"iframe-video article-figure video active\" data-video=\"native,640,360,31641651,whitelist-GT|LS|BR|HN|NI|GF|CR|ST|MH|UM|CV|MX|BQ|HT|GM|SL|BM|CO|PA|AM|MG|TZ|PE|ER|MQ|GW|GU|AG|BI|GN|FJ|SN|LC|AI|GY|BB|ZW|PW|SX|GQ|US|AS|MP|PR|VI|ZA|JM|DO|MZ|UG|VC|KM|GH|ET|RW|BS|EC|TT|LR|PY|FM|MU|CU|ML|CI|TG|VE|BJ|BO|KN|NA|NZ|MW|ZM|CM|CG|SZ|TC|SR|SS|GA|SC|GB|UK|CD|GD|BW|RE|UY|CL|NE|KY|BF|NG|BZ|AW|AU|CF|MS|GP|AO|KE|MF|SV|VG|\" data-cerebro-id=\"60c96ea6ca84b7178abf0af2\" data-source=\"espn\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\"><strong><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2F2021%2F0615%2Fdm_210615_Nets_SOTFULL%2Fdm_210615_Nets_SOTFULL.jpg&amp;w=943&amp;h=530&amp;cquality=80&amp;format=jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2F2021%2F0615%2Fdm_210615_Nets_SOTFULL%2Fdm_210615_Nets_SOTFULL.jpg&amp;w=375&amp;cquality=80, https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2F2021%2F0615%2Fdm_210615_Nets_SOTFULL%2Fdm_210615_Nets_SOTFULL.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" \/><img class=\"null imageLoaded lazyloaded\" data-image-container=\".article-figure\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pg-comments pg-rail-tall__comments\">\n<p><strong>When an all-time great player is having an all-time great game, especially in the NBA playoffs, there&#8217;s a feeling that starts to envelop an arena as people start to realize this is a time-and-place moment.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The collective adrenaline forces perspective on the spectators &#8212; and that can include the players and coaches from both teams &#8212; and they can&#8217;t help but hold on to the memory of how they experienced it as much as the sight of seeing it happen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3202\/kevin-durant\">Kevin Durant<\/a> did that to the Barclays Center on Tuesday night in the Brooklyn Nets&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/boxscore\/_\/gameId\/401332961\">114-108 win<\/a> over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/mil\/milwaukee-bucks\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>, as the Nets took an improbable 3-2 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series by overcoming significant odds and a 17-point deficit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And we know one person who&#8217;s holding on to it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;You know, he&#8217;s the best player in the world right now,&#8221; Bucks star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3032977\/giannis-antetokounmpo\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> said after his own 34 points and 12 rebounds were relegated.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>How will it be remembered? Forty-nine points in 48 minutes. The pursing of his lips as he looked skyward after his dagger 3-pointer. Or just referring to it as &#8220;Game 5.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Talk about NBA ratings. Talk about too many games and too many injuries. Talk about too many replays or 3-pointers or too much offense all you want. The reason people are drawn to NBA basketball at the highest level is to take a small part in a game like Durant provided.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;I was able to rack up some points,&#8221; Durant said dryly. &#8220;I did play every minute, so that helped with my point total.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>That was part of Durant&#8217;s attempts to be understated afterward, partly because he knows the series isn&#8217;t over and partly because it probably just felt good to act like this was just another box score for the files.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Which, of course, isn&#8217;t true. He had 17 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Strangely, though, the enormity of the stats doesn&#8217;t quite capture it. It was much more relatable seeing him rise over and over and over to make those silky jumpers above defenders. Criticize the Bucks&#8217; defense or Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer not assigning Antetokounmpo to him or not double-teaming him; all nine of Durant&#8217;s jumpers in the fourth quarter were heavily contested. He made six.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;What can I tell you, it&#8217;s not ideal,&#8221; Nets coach Steve Nash said of not taking Durant out of the game. &#8220;But if we didn&#8217;t play him 48, probably weren&#8217;t winning tonight. It&#8217;s a tough decision; it&#8217;s an easy decision that&#8217;s very tough to make.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><strong><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0616%2Fr868017_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" \/><img class=\"lazyloaded imageLoaded\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\"><strong>Kevin Durant finished with a 49-point triple-double in a Game 5 win. <cite><br \/>\n<\/cite><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p><strong>Late NBA commissioner David Stern used to offer the sage wisdom that the greatness of the game and its players always wins out. The flaws of those who play, manage, coach or officiate get shoved to irrelevance when you see the grace of Durant rising up to hit such a volume of impossible-looking shots.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;Kevin&#8217;s game was just unbelievable,&#8221; said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3992\/james-harden\">James Harden<\/a>, who has been in this realm a time or two in his career, though let&#8217;s be honest, not in a playoff situation quite like this. &#8220;He was unfazed the entire game.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Durant has a bunch of nicknames. Durantula. Slim Reaper. KD, of course. But the best one is probably Easy Money Sniper. He likes it so much, it&#8217;s his Instagram handle. Some of his friends just call him Easy Money. It enters the mind in moments like this, those who know him best whispering &#8220;Easy Money&#8221; as those shots keep going down.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>That&#8217;s maybe what was most remarkable about the whole thing, Durant really did make it look easy. Analyze him to death, but those plays define his career. What a way to have a defining game.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;To be honest, I don&#8217;t even rank or look at the performances,&#8221; Durant said. &#8220;Once they happen, I just try to move on and see if I can do it again. It was a fun game to be a part of. There was a lot of games in my career that I felt were just as fun. I&#8217;m sure when I reflect on it, we can talk about it again, but for now, it was great that we got the W.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"story-title uc lh-1 lh-md-pt93 fs-64 fs-md-54 fs-sm-40\" data-v-7e945894=\"\"><strong>Kevin Durant&#8217;s dazzling Game 5 was a show worthy of the NBA&#8217;s greatest player<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-20908\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.15.21_Durant-dominates_NBA-180x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.15.21_Durant-dominates_NBA-180x300.jpg 180w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.15.21_Durant-dominates_NBA.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>NEW YORK \u2013\u00a0Kevin Durant couldn\u2019t remember when exactly the conversation took place. Maybe late in the third quarter. Maybe early in the fourth. It was sometime late in the second half, though.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>He was in the midst of carving up the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/milwaukee-bucks-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Milwaukee Bucks\u2019<\/a> defense. Splashing 3-pointers over defenders. Splitting double-teams. Firing darts to open teammates. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/brooklyn-nets-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a> had trailed by 16 at halftime. But now, thanks to Durant, they were clawing their way back.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/kevin-durant-player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Durant<\/a>, though, had yet to be given a rest, relying on dead balls and timeouts to catch his breath. Nets coach Steve Nash had tried finding breaks for him. But the flow of the game seemed to always get in the way. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/kyrie-irving-player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kyrie Irving<\/a> was out with an ankle sprain. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/james-harden-player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Harden<\/a>, while back on the floor for the first time since tweaking his right hamstring in the first minute of the series, was hobbled, rarely probing, barely attacking. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/joe-harris-player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe Harris<\/a>, normally a reliable sharpshooter, couldn\u2019t find his shot. Durant was all the Nets had, the one thing standing between them and an epic collapse that could trigger a wave of offseason questions and reckoning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>&#8220;It\u2019s not ideal,&#8221; Nash would say later of playing Durant the entire game. &#8220;But if we didn\u2019t play him 48 minutes we probably weren\u2019t winning tonight.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>Nash knew Durant\u2019s age \u2013 32 \u2013 and history. He knew them better than most. He was a consultant for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/golden-state-warriors-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> and workout partner for Durant when the star ruptured his Achilles during the 2019 Finals, an injury that sidelined him for more than a year. But Nash also knew that if the Nets were going to pull off the comeback, they\u2019d likely need Durant out on the floor for every minute of the game.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>So he and Jacque Vaughn, his lead assistant, approached him, and that&#8217;s when the conversation happened.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t need to take me out, I can do this,&#8221; Durant later recalled telling them.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mgn-top-20-btm-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mgn-top-20-btm-20 article-content\" data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong>Nash listened and Durant rewarded him with a 49-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist performance, drilling 16 of his 23 shots and adding in three steals and two blocks. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-v-5596573b=\"\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-20910\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/373.9_Editorial_1500x1000_Inline_NBA_Playoff_Stats_NetsBucks-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/373.9_Editorial_1500x1000_Inline_NBA_Playoff_Stats_NetsBucks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/373.9_Editorial_1500x1000_Inline_NBA_Playoff_Stats_NetsBucks.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span id=\"Awards_and_honors\" class=\"mw-headline\">Awards and honors<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\">\n<div class=\"thumbinner\"><strong><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumbimage\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg\/220px-Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg\/330px-Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg\/440px-Kevin_Durant_Texas_retired_number.jpg 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"147\" data-file-width=\"4272\" data-file-height=\"2848\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"thumbcaption\">\n<div class=\"magnify\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\">\n<div class=\"thumbinner\">\n<div class=\"thumbcaption\"><strong>Durant&#8217;s No. 35 jersey retired by <a title=\"Texas Longhorns men's basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Texas_Longhorns_men%27s_basketball\">Texas<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong><span id=\"NBA_2\" class=\"mw-headline\">NBA<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"List of NBA champions\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NBA_champions\">NBA champion<\/a>: 2017, 2018<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Finals Most Valuable Player<\/a>: 2017, 2018<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"NBA Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Most Valuable Player<\/a>: 2014<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>11\u00d7 <a title=\"NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star_Game\">NBA All-Star<\/a>: 2010\u20132019, 2021<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>6\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"All-NBA First Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_First_Team\">All-NBA First Team<\/a>: 2010\u20132014, 2018<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>3\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"All-NBA Second Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_Second_Team\">All-NBA Second Team<\/a>: 2016, 2017, 2019<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>4\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA annual scoring champion\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_annual_scoring_champion\">NBA scoring champion<\/a>: 2010\u20132012, 2014<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA All-Star Game MVP<\/a>: 2012, 2019<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA Rookie of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Rookie_of_the_Year\">NBA Rookie of the Year<\/a>: 2008<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Rookie First Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Rookie_First_Team\">NBA All-Rookie First Team<\/a>: 2008<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA Rookie Challenge MVP\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Rookie_Challenge_MVP\">NBA Rookie Challenge MVP<\/a>: 2009<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><span id=\"United_States_national_team\" class=\"mw-headline\">United States national team<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"Olympic medal\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Olympic_medal\">Olympic gold medalist<\/a>: <a title=\"Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics \u2013 Men's tournament\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_tournament\">2012<\/a>, <a title=\"Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics \u2013 Men's tournament\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_tournament\">2016<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"FIBA World Cup\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FIBA_World_Cup\">FIBA World Cup<\/a> gold medalist: <a title=\"2010 FIBA World Championship\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_FIBA_World_Championship\">2010<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"FIBA World Cup Most Valuable Player\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FIBA_World_Cup_Most_Valuable_Player\">FIBA World Cup Most Valuable Player<\/a>: 2010<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><span id=\"College_2\" class=\"mw-headline\">College<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Naismith College Player of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Naismith_College_Player_of_the_Year\">Naismith College Player of the Year<\/a>: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-POYawards_206-0\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"National Association of Basketball Coaches\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Association_of_Basketball_Coaches\">NABC<\/a> Division I Player of the Year: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-NABCPOY_23-1\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Associated Press\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Associated_Press\">AP<\/a> Player of the Year: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-207\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Associated Press\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Associated_Press\">AP<\/a> All-America 1st Team: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-dallasnews_208-0\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Oscar Robertson Trophy\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oscar_Robertson_Trophy\">Oscar Robertson Trophy<\/a>: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-USBWAaward_24-1\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Adolph Rupp Trophy\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adolph_Rupp_Trophy\">Adolph Rupp Trophy<\/a>: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-RuppTrophy_25-1\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"John R. Wooden Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_R._Wooden_Award\">John R. Wooden Award<\/a>: 2007<sup id=\"cite_ref-WoodenTeam_209-0\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Big_12_Conference_Men%27s_Basketball_Player_of_the_Year\">Big 12 Player of the Year<\/a>: 2007<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"USBWA National Freshman of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/USBWA_National_Freshman_of_the_Year\">USBWA National Freshman of the Year<\/a>: 2007<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Durant\u2019s historic 49-point triple-double helps Nets to playoff lead over Bucks Brooklyn lead best-of-seven series 3-2 after Tuesday\u2019s victory Nets have been dealing with injuries to key players Kevin Durant was almost unstoppable against the Bucks on Tuesday night. The Brooklyn Nets needed much more than points Tuesday night, so Kevin Durant gave them one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2405,330,11,8,1314,2432,1456,1156,13,2404,2406,14,106,104,187,1,1282,7,9,10],"tags":[4300,4301,4302,4299,2523,2524],"class_list":["post-20903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-basketball-sports","category-business","category-entertainment","category-global-business-entrepreneurs","category-global-gamers","category-global-news-updates-and-more","category-global-sports","category-health","category-high-school-sports","category-mbs-hss","category-most-commented","category-nba-sports-news","category-ncaa","category-ncaa-basketball","category-news","category-olympics","category-sports","category-us","category-world","tag-1-24-2019-cropped-jpg-durant-with-the-golden-state-warriors-in-2019-no-7-brooklyn-nets-position-small-forward-league-nba-personal-information-born-september-29","tag-1988-age-32-washington","tag-d-c-nationality-american-listed-height-6-ft-10-in-2-08-m-listed-weight-240-lb-109-kg-career-information-high-school-national-christian-academy-fort-washington","tag-kevin-durantkevin-durant-wizards-v-warriors","tag-maryland-oak-hill-academy-mouth-of-wilson","tag-virginia-montrose-christian-school-rockville","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20903\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}