
Kevin Durant gives heartfelt credit to his mom Wanda Durant for his stunning basketball career
Kevin Durant's career has spanned legendary milestones. He has multiple NBA championships, Olympic gold medals, and MVP honors to his credit. Yet, despite all the global recognition and accolades, Durant made it clear that his journey wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering belief of one person, his mother, Wanda Durant.
In a personal conversation with
LeBron James
and Steve Nash on the Mind the Game podcast, the 36-year-old superstar opened up about how his mother's faith laid the foundation for everything he achieved on the court.
Kevin Durant honors his mom, Wanda Durant, as the true MVP behind his legendary basketball journey
Kevin Durant showed his immense gratitude to his mother, Wanda Durant in a candid chat with LeBron James and Steve Nash.
'Yeah. It's my mom's for sure. I mean obviously it's always going to be your mom's. Yeah. But it's like I tune her out at a certain point.
You know what I'm saying?' Durant shared, reflecting on his early years. 'So it was for sure. You know when I look back on it I for sure appreciated my mom telling me that I was going to be great. But I always knew that. Of course she going to say that.'
The Truth About Kevin Durant's Nets Experience | LeBron James & Steve Nash | MIND THE GAME
The candid moment showed a side of Durant that fans rarely see as an elite athlete, shaped by a community and a mother who kept pushing him forward. 'She was calling me handsome when I was going to school and they was like, 'Oh no.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Ter um Mitsubishi 0 km ficou mais fácil, prático e seguro com o MIT Assinatura
Mitsubishi
Saiba Mais
Undo
You know what I'm saying?' he continued, playfully acknowledging his mom's unwavering support. 'I was looking for some validation from my coaches, my teammates... then my friends start to knock on my door.
Can Katie come play today?'
From those early neighborhood games to the NBA spotlight, Durant's love for basketball was also nurtured by the community around him. 'I was just grateful to have a rec center in my neighborhood that...
provided a space for the kids. You know what I'm saying? And I was grateful. You know, most of my friends come from hooping... I travel this world because of that.'
From being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics to winning two titles with the Warriors and now joining the Houston Rockets in a record-breaking seven-team deal, Durant's career continues to evolve. 'Houston, Can't Wait!' he wrote on social media. But at every stage, Wanda Durant's influence remains a central force.
As Rockets coach Ime Udoka said, 'His skill level, love of basketball, and dedication to his craft have made him one of the most respected players of his generation.'
Also Read:
Los Angeles Lakers $10 billion deal left Shaquille O'Neal 'upset' for one major reason
Today, without a doubt, Durant is one of the most accomplished NBA stars in the league with his elite status in the league. While his tenure with the Rockets is yet to be seen, fans expect his showdown with his new franchise as well.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Patrick Mahomes body shamed ahead of NFL 2025 season trainer Bobby Stroupe fires back with brutal response
Patrick Mahomes body shamed ahead of NFL 2025 season trainer Bobby Stroupe fires back with brutal response (Image Via Getty) A new controversy has popped up around NFL star Patrick Mahomes just days after he returned to training for the 2025 season. A Kansas City radio host made surprising comments about the quarterback's body after shirtless photos of Patrick Mahomes surfaced online. The comments quickly spread on social media and sparked debate. While fans mostly laughed it off, someone very close to Patrick Mahomes didn't take it lightly. The person who trains him every day stepped in to defend the star quarterback, and what he said caught everyone's attention. What bdid Patrick Mahomes's trainer Bobby Stroupe responds on X after viral body comments On Monday, July 8, 2025, Kansas City-based radio host Kevin Keitzman commented on Patrick Mahomes's body after seeing his shirtless photos online. During his segment, he said Patrick Mahomes looked 'fat' and focused on a small love handle seen in the photo. The segment from his radio show went viral immediately, with many saying the comments were ridiculous. Patrick Mahomes is an athlete 28 years old, and he's led the Kansas City Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles, so he can be considered one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. Most fans shrugged off the statement, saying that Patrick Mahomes proves himself when he plays the game not when people see him. But Patrick Mahomes's personal trainer, Bobby Stroupe, didn't stay silent. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), writing: 'Send me your location. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo You obviously need attention. If you want to see what in shape is, go make it through a practice at training camp or run hurry-up offense scrambling back to back to back plays. You don't have a clue what it takes. It's not a look, it's performance.' The post was later deleted, but not before fans took screenshots and shared it widely. Also Read: Patrick Mahomes' $503 Million NFL Contract Drops To 14th As Rising Quarterbacks Outshine And Loyalty Raises Pay Debate Kevin Keitzman's comments and the growing debate around athlete body image Kevin Keitzman's original comments were made during a radio segment in Kansas City on July 8. He focused more on Patrick Mahomes's appearance than his football success, which led many to question why a player's body shape matters when they are still winning big games. While Kevin Keitzman may have wanted attention, Bobby Stroupe's response started a bigger conversation about how athletes are judged and what really defines fitness. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!


Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Poolside romance brewing as Dallas Mavericks star Klay Thompson gets spotted in rapper Megan Thee Stallion's latest pictures
Klay Thompson (Image via Getty) The NBA is never too far from the music industry, as many athletes have also been successful artists in their careers. After all, Shaq might be an NBA legend, but he is also a certified rapper. But in this instance, we are talking about two different people - a rapper and an NBA star, only this time, they are seemingly together. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion recently released a few pictures of herself, enjoying her time off while taking pictures by the pool. But that's not the only thing that caught the eyes of fans, as Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson was seemingly spotted in not one, but two of those pictures. Is Klay Thompson dating Megan Thee Stallion? Tina Snow, aka rapper Megan Thee Stallion, is taking some time off after her SummerFest show and is enjoying the summer in a bikini by the pool. She recently took to her Instagram to post a few pictures of herself enjoying the pool, wearing a pastel green bikini. But while fans were overjoyed to get a glimpse of her daily life in this summer heat, there was one other thing that had many stumped, or should we say, one other person. Dallas Mavericks star Klay Thompson, who was last romantically linked with singer, songwriter, and actress Coco Jones until 2023, seems to have found a new beau. Thompson was seemingly spotted in the background of two pictures that were recently posted by rapper Megan Thee Stallion, and fans are all over social media trying to figure out if it really is him, or just someone who looks like the NBA star. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Or this could just be Megan pulling a trick out of the bag and messing with her fans for fun. Klay Thompson spotted in Megan Thee Stallion's pictures (Image via Instagram) Megan Thee Stallion until now, was known to be dating Torrey Craig, but that has been a while, and maybe they broke up. It is also possible that, if it is Klay Thompson, which is still not confirmed, maybe he is just friends with the rapper and was hanging out with her. Or even, chances are both of them were just there at the same time, and he became a part of the background of her pictures unknowingly. But if the chaos on social media is anything to go by, the summer holidays are looking a lot more exciting with this bit of revelation. Also Read: Emirates NBA Cup: 30 teams have been rounded up into 6 groups as the 2025 group draw results are revealed Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!


NDTV
26 minutes ago
- NDTV
History-chasing Novak Djokovic Sets Up Wimbledon Showdown With Jannik Sinner
Novak Djokovic set up a mouthwatering Wimbledon semi-final against world number one Jannik Sinner as he moved a step closer to claiming a historic 25th Grand Slam title. The Serb won 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 against Flavio Cobolli in front of Britain's Queen Camilla on Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon last four for a record 14th time in the men's game. Earlier, three-time major champion Sinner eased pre-match injury fears to sweep past US 10th seed Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 in an impressive display. In the women's draw, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek and former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic both reached the semi-finals for the first time and will clash for a place in the final. Seven-time champion Djokovic was pushed hard by Italian 22nd seed Cobolli but ultimately had too much nous and craft for the 23-year-old. "It means the world to me that I'm still able at 38 to play the final stages of Wimbledon," he said on court. "Thank you for cheering for my age. I really appreciate it. It's beautiful. Makes me feel very young. "And I guess another thing that makes me feel very young is competing with youngsters like Cobolli today." The sixth seed prepared for the contest by meeting Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, who said she was keeping her "fingers crossed" for his match. She watched Djokovic from the Royal Box, along with British actor Hugh Grant. There was a collective gasp when the Serbian slipped fell awkwardly while serving for victory but he played down injury fears. "I had a nasty slip, but that's what happens when you play on the grass," he said. "I'm going to visit this subject now with my physio and hopefully I'll be well in two days." The Serb now owns the all-time record for most Wimbledon men's singles semi-final appearances, moving one clear of eight-time champion Roger Federer, who reached the last four 13 times. He has also reached a 52nd Grand Slam semi-final, extending his all-time record in the men's game. Djokovic is now within two wins of breaking his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles for any player, man or woman. But Sinner will offer a different level of challenge. The top seed has won his past four matches against Djokovic, beating him in straight sets in the semi-finals of the recent French Open. Sinner had sparked fears he may have to pull out of the tournament after falling early in his fourth-round tie against Grigor Dimitrov on Monday. He was trailing by two sets and on the brink of a shock exit when the Bulgarian pulled a pectoral muscle while serving and had to retire. Sinner wore a protective sleeve on his right arm against Shelton and said his injury had "improved a lot" after his practice was curtailed on Tuesday. Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in the past two finals at Wimbledon, takes on US fifth seed Taylor Fritz in Friday's other semi-final. - 'Dream come true' - Attention will switch Thursday to the women's semi-finals. Eighth seed Swiatek said she had "goosebumps" after her 6-2, 7-5 win against Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova. The Polish former world number one has won four titles on the clay at the French Open, as well as the US Open in 2022, but her previous best result at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023. "It feels great. Even though I'm in the middle of the tournament I've already got goosebumps after this win. I'm super happy and super proud of myself and I'll keep going," she said. She faces Switzerland's Bencic, who shocked Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2). The 28-year-old had a daughter, Bella, in April 2024, but has already risen back up to 35 in the world since returning from maternity leave. "It's crazy, it's unbelievable. It's a dream come true. I tried not to think about it at the match point. I'm just speechless," Bencic said. World number one Aryna Sabalenka plays American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova in the other women's semi-final on Thursday.