Durant

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Kevin Durant (杜兰特)
Alias(es)	KD; “Grim Reaper”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Oklahoma City Thunder; later Golden State Warriors
Occupation/Role	Professional basketball player; forward
First Appearance	Chapter 77

Appearance

Durant is a lanky forward standing over 2.10 meters tall, with exceptional length and unusually fluid perimeter mobility for his size 77 111 241.

• Wears No. 35 for the Thunder 111.
• Possesses a notably long wingspan that expands his shooting and defensive range 111 591.
• Takes unusually large strides in transition and on drives 111 241.
• His high center of gravity was an exploitable weakness early in his career 111.

Honors

Honor / Recognition	Details
Scoring titles	Three consecutive scoring championships by the time of the Thunder–Grizzlies Western Conference Finals 358.
All-NBA	Two consecutive All-NBA First Team selections by Chapter 358; later named to the All-NBA Second Team in a season where he averaged 28.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists 358 588.
NBA 2K15 cover athlete	Featured on the standard edition cover; Link appeared on the deluxe edition, which Durant took as a slight 723 724.
NBA champion and Finals MVP	Won a championship with the Warriors and was named Finals MVP, becoming the second player after Link to earn the double-MVP feat 1033.

Background & History

Durant emerged as the Thunder's elite scorer while still early in his career. By his fourth NBA season, he had won consecutive scoring titles, but Link's pressure defense exposed his then-raw ball-handling and high center of gravity during the Thunder's playoff loss to Memphis. Durant shot 3-for-14 in the deciding game, yet approached Link afterward to offer congratulations and signal that they would meet again 111 198 199 200.

He used subsequent offseasons to develop his self-created offense, ball handling, and defense. By the time he and Link met in a private summer run, Link recognized that Durant had become far more dangerous with the ball in his hands and harder to attack defensively 229. He later entered his prime as a three-time scoring champion and a central force of the Thunder, determined to avenge the humiliation inflicted by Memphis 358.

Durant's rivalry with Link repeatedly shaped the Thunder–Grizzlies playoff matchups. He alternated between dominant scoring performances—such as 42 points against San Antonio—and bouts of impatience when Memphis' rotating defenders denied him comfortable touches 578 583 588. In one pivotal Game 4, he and Link each surpassed 40 points, but Link's 50-point playoff game put the Thunder in a 3–1 series deficit and left Durant visibly disheartened 590 592.

During the summer, Durant became a Rucker Park sensation by scoring 66 points and making 9 of 11 three-pointers. His confidence was checked when Link appeared as his opponent in the farewell game, holding Durant to 15 points while scoring 43 himself 634 635 636.

A severe right-foot injury requiring bone-graft surgery likely ended Durant's season and kept him from challenging Link on the court 940. During recovery, frustration with Oklahoma City, its management, and Russell Westbrook led him to consider leaving. A recruitment message from Draymond Green helped direct him toward Oakland 1009.

Durant ultimately signed a two-year, $54.3 million deal with the Warriors, joining Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green. The decision formed a four-star superteam but sharply damaged his public reputation, with critics accusing him of taking an easier path to a title 1030. He later won a championship and Finals MVP with Golden State, believing the victory finally placed him alongside Link 1033.

Personality

Early in his Thunder career, Durant cultivated a quiet, cold, and outwardly composed image. On court, he spoke little compared with Westbrook and Harden, instead relying on a calm demeanor and lethal scoring 111. However, Link's defensive pressure often provoked visible frustration, self-doubt, and impulsive decisions 186 199.

He is intensely prideful and highly sensitive to perceived disrespect. The NBA 2K15 deluxe-cover dispute, Link's postgame hugs, repeated individual losses, and public criticism all fueled his desire to defeat Link decisively rather than merely win team games 724 748 1184. His confidence can become arrogance, as when he predicted a Thunder sweep in Memphis or dismissed Link before a conference-finals series 358 361 578.

Following his injury and move to Golden State, Durant abandoned much of his earlier reserved public persona. He became more combative with the media, former teammates, fans, and Link, openly insisting that he had emotions and would no longer give carefully controlled answers 948 949 1072.

Abilities & Skills

Elite Scoring

Durant is one of the league's defining scorers, capable of scoring efficiently from all three levels despite his size.

• Three-time consecutive scoring champion during his Thunder prime 358.
• Particularly dangerous on pull-up mid-range jumpers, including shots over close contests 111 1075.
• Can score from beyond the arc; he made 9 of 11 threes during his 66-point Rucker Park performance 634.
• Recorded 42 points against the Spurs and 32 points in a late-game duel with Link 245 578.
• His size allows him to shoot over many defenders, though Link's length and anticipation can still heavily contest him 588 1120.

Ball Handling and Self-Creation

Durant pairs perimeter ball handling with the stride length of a much bigger player.

• Can lead fast breaks after steals and finish coast to coast 241.
• Uses massive strides to gain separation on drives 111 241.
• Developed his on-ball offense substantially after his early playoff struggles against Link 229.
• His handle, once vulnerable to steals due to his high dribble and center of gravity, later ceased to be a clear weakness 111 588 1076.
• Can become overly focused on isolating against Link, sometimes ignoring open teammates such as Curry 1076 1120.

Defense

Durant's length, anticipation, and mobility make him a capable defender rather than solely a scorer.

• Crowded Link effectively in their first matchup, using his reach to restrict movement and passing lanes 111.
• Intercepted passes and initiated his own fast breaks 241.
• Averaged 1.4 steals per game in one season, an unusually high figure for a forward over 2.10 meters 591.
• Opened a Drew League game with a chasedown snatch block 841.
• Can be beaten by powerful, low-center-of-gravity defenders who deny his first step or force him off balance 198 635.

Relationships

• Link — Lifelong rival. Their confrontations began with Link exploiting Durant's early weaknesses and developed into an era-defining feud spanning the Thunder, Warriors, playoffs, All-Star events, and summer runs 111 200 1132 1200.
• Russell Westbrook — Thunder teammate and fellow star. Durant often grew frustrated with Westbrook's impulsive shooting, and later admitted he had lost confidence in him as part of his dissatisfaction with Oklahoma City 186 244 1009.
• James Harden — Former Thunder teammate. Durant switched defensive assignments with Harden during the playoffs and was dissatisfied with Harden's defense, though Harden remained part of Oklahoma City's primary scoring core 186 245.
• Draymond Green — Warriors teammate who directly recruited Durant to Oakland. Their partnership later showed strain when Green criticized Durant's isolation-heavy play after losses to Memphis 1009 1124.
• Stephen Curry — Warriors teammate. Curry's off-ball shooting complements Durant's isolation scoring, though Durant has occasionally ignored Curry's open looks while trying to settle matters with Link himself 841 1076 1120.
• Rich Kleiman — Durant's agent, business partner, and confidant. Kleiman received Durant's late-night call in which Durant first seriously considered leaving Oklahoma City 1009.

Notable Rivalry Moments

• First clash with Link — Link nutmegged Durant for an assist, then stripped him and set up Tony Allen's fast-break dunk after identifying Durant's high center of gravity 111.
• Memphis playoff defeat — Link's relentless defense reduced Durant to 3-for-14 shooting in the deciding game, prompting Durant to vow improvement 199 200.
• Western Conference Finals duel — Durant hit a heavily contested three to keep the Thunder alive, but Link answered with a deep buzzer-beater in their final one-on-one possession 364 365.
• Rucker Park loss — After declaring that any challenger would be blown out, Durant lost to Link 43–15 in their streetball matchup 634 636.
• NBA 2K15 confrontation — Durant stepped over Link after scoring; Link immediately answered by shaking him down repeatedly and leaving him on the floor 725 726.
• Warriors-era isolation failures — Durant repeatedly forced one-on-one attempts against Link, ignoring open Warriors teammates and worsening internal tension with Green 1076 1120 1124.
• Oracle Arena humiliation — While Durant was sidelined, Link scored 60 points in a 27-point Memphis win over Golden State, forcing Durant to watch from the bench 1160 1165.

Notable Quotes

“No disrespect, but Link really isn't that good. I've been in this league for six years. By my third year, I was already averaging 30 points a game.” 578

“I want to play Link right now. I can't wait. The next game will be our final meeting of the regular season, and I promise I'll make him remember it forever.” 743

“I'm not a robot. I have emotions, and I'm just trying to express them as much as possible.” 948

Trivia

• Durant's 66-point, 9-for-11 three-point Rucker Park game made him one of the court's most respected visiting NBA players before Link defeated him in the following showcase 634 635 636.
• His initial public image as a quiet “model student” sharply contrasted with his later online feuds, burner-account activity, and confrontational media presence 948 1072.
• Durant’s fear of being dominated by Link persisted even after joining the Warriors, as later losses made him feel that his Oklahoma City struggles had returned 1200.