By: Julio Olmo
Kevin Durant has never been your typical NBA Super Star, truth be told he has a good heart and was burnt by it several times. To the point that now he will shout from any rooftop,
“There is no loyalty in the NBA!
Never will forget the time he was walking off the court during the NBA 2012 Finals after the Miami Heat eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder and won the title.
KD was walking up the tunnel on his way to the locker-room when he ran into his mother. He said something to her and she opened her arms and gave him a great big hug. Kevin Durant began to cry in her arms, as if the OKC Thunder being eliminated was all of his fault.
That’s what wearing your heart on your sleeve does to good folk.
Scott Brooks coached a roster which included Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant and a solid cast coming off the bench…Yet!
Only won ONE NBA Western Conference Title, but the Daily Oklahoman – the hometown newspaper – editors decided in 2014 that showing a photo of Kevin Durant and calling him, quote, Mr. Unreliable was a more fitting front page headline.
Mind you, that KD had donated $1 million dollars of his own money a year earlier to the Red Cross Oklahoma City Tornado Relief in order help victims of a tornado which ripped through the streets, homes and wrecked the lives of Oklahoma City citizens.
So it was more than an insult, it was basically a stab on the back!
It got so weird for KD in Oklahoma City that – Hand to God! – the Governor of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin offered him a position in her administration if he stayed with the Thunder in 2016.
Add to the mix his public feuding with Media types such as Stephen A. Smith, all the bad press that he got when he signed with the Golden State Warriors…it is a wonder Durant has been able continue playing basketball at such high level with all of these distractions.
Regardless how much money you make if you do not have any focus or goals you’re at the mercy of others and will always question yourself…
Am I good enough? Do they like me? Blah…Blah…Blah
Until you understand that yes! not only are you good enough, but can also make a significant contribution to a team.
Kevin Durant reached that mindset when he signed as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors.
KD caught all kinds of Hell when he signed with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent, but…
He was just following a path already established by Moses Malone, Adrian Dantley and Shaquille O’Neal.