“One of the best players in the NBA today, Kevin Durant spent his childhood years living in incredible poverty.”
Kevin Durant is one of the most complete shooters in the NBA at the moment. His top defensive and offensive abilities and two NBA championships help him become a player sought after by every team. He was also voted by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. In addition to his comprehensiveness in competition, Kevin Durant is also known as a player with a strangely slim figure.
Kevin Durant was born in a small town outside Washington, where 80% of households were poor. The 2014 MVP’s family is no exception. Kevin Durant’s father left the family when he was just 1 year old, and a childhood of lack of food and clothing created a skinny, lanky teenager. Kevin Durant still maintains that physique today.
Nearly one-third of black children grow up without the love of their father, and Kevin Durant is one of them. Mr. Wayne Pratt, Kevin’s father, left the family when Kevin was just 1 year old. “Single mother, 21 years old, 2 sons,” Kevin Durant described the situation of his mother, Wanda Durant, at that time. Because his father left, the Nets striker took his beloved mother’s last name.
Mrs. Wanda Durant struggled to raise her two sons. They often have to move because single mother Wanda’s job is very unstable. “No bed, no furniture, had to sleep on the floor. All three of us hugged each other to keep warm,” Kevin Durant recalled about his difficult childhood. Not only does it affect the spirit, but the lack of love from their father also affects the material lives of the Durant mother and daughter.
When Kevin Durant became an NBA champion, his childhood worries still haunted him. During the championship parade in his hometown, Kevin wistfully said: “When I was young, my mother couldn’t go to happy occasions like this, because she always had to work hard to make money to make ends meet.” The hard working days of single mother Wanda Durant have borne fruit, when her son has become a champion.
More than 10 years after leaving, Mr. Wayne Pratt returned to reconcile with Ms. Wanda Durant. “At that time, I was very shallow, selfish and immature,” Mr. Wayne said about abandoning his family. After reuniting with Durant and his mother, Mr. Wayne Pratt spent time taking care of and making up for his family. It was he who guided his son Kevin to become a basketball player and created conditions for Kevin to practice in a professional environment.
Hit those who run away, no one hits those who run back. After realizing his mistake, Mr. Wayne Pratt still tried to correct those mistakes. Kevin Durant said that up to now, his biological father still goes to work every day to earn money for living without relying on Kevin’s million-dollar salary. Mr. Wayne chose to stand behind all the lights of his son to atone for the mistakes of his youth.
“Basketball is a place for me to inspire people.”
From a boy who lost everything, Kevin Durant has now become the goal of every poor child on the planet. Even though he is living a rich and happy life with his current family, Kevin Durant still cannot forget the difficult days of the past.
Now, when KD has achieved a lot of success in his career, he focuses his time on “giving back”. His charity is used to help many homeless people, build basketball courts in developed areas and help children in difficult situations go to school.
Through Kevin Durant’s story, we can clearly see the truth that no matter how much money and fame one has, family is always a place to return to.
