48 Kevin Durant Quotes On Basketball, Work Ethic, and Being Yourself

Famous Kevin Durant quotes

Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball player who is known for his elite scoring ability.

KD played for the University of Texas before being drafted as the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who later became the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's also played for the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns.

Throughout his NBA career, Durant has achieved a lot of success. He is a two-time NBA champion, winning titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

He's won two NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, he's been named an NBA All-Star multiple times and he's consistently been among the league's top scorers.

Off the court, KD is known for his work ethic, humility, and dedication to personal growth.

His journey to becoming an NBA superstar wasn't all smooth - he faced a lot of criticism and doubt when he first entered the league. Despite that, he still evolved into the elite player that he is now which is a testament to his mental toughness and desire to be great.

These KD quotes will give you a look inside the mind of one of the greats and hopefully inspire you to work hard, never give up, and be yourself, no matter what other people say or think.

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Best Kevin Durant Quotes On Basketball

On the court, KD is most known as a scorer, but he can do a little bit of everything as well. Coming out of college, KD had his fair share of criticism. Some people thought he would never be good in the NBA, but his work ethic and passion for the game led to continuous improvement for KD and he surpassed all expectations. 

1. "You hear all these stories about, 'There's one in a million guys that make it to the NBA and stay there.' To see people cheering for me and when they say my name, it's just crazy. It's still crazy to me."

2. "I can score the basketball, but I think I can pass pretty well or I can make the correct pass. I'm not the type of guy who's just going to throw the ball inbounds to a guy who's wide open. I can make the right pass."

3. "Every memory I had growing up was involving a basketball. I didn't go to the prom and stuff like that. It was always basketball for me."

4. "Chemistry is important. If you like teammates, it is going to be easier to play with them on the court."

5. "I've got a long way to go to being the ultimate best, but I think my time is now. And I'm starting to enter my prime."

6. "I feel as though I've proved myself these last five years that I can be one of the top players in the league."

7. "I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I just know for sure I'm going to keep playing basketball."

8. "I've heard a few times, in three or four years, this league is going to be yours. I don't like that. Because I think I'm established now."

9. "Basketball is just a platform for me to inspire people."

10. "With a versatile player, there’s no spot on the court you can’t pass him the ball."

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Kevin Durant Quotes On Success, Adversity, and Life

KD talks about the challenges and obstacles he had to overcome to get to where he is today. He even admits that he really never thought he'd make it to the NBA and how proud he is to have done so.

11. "I'm a basketball player. That's what I do and what I love but that's just not all who I am. I'm talented in a lot of different areas."

12. "My mom just wants to make sure that my heart is always in whatever I do and I'm in things for the right reasons."

13. "I look at my jersey and see the NBA logo, I'm like, 'I didn't think I'd be here.'"

14. "I want to go down as a winner."

15. "My dream was to become a rec league coach. I love basketball so much and play it, and I never thought I would make it to college, NBA, or be standing up today. It is a surreal feeling. So many people doubted me and motivated me."

16. "It is funny that I get to live out my dream every day. It is a blessing, and I cannot lose sight of that, and I have just got to keep pushing."

17. "Everything has been such a whirlwind ever since I stepped foot in the league and everything has been like a dream, so I'm just blessed to be in this position."

18. "I fell so many times and got back up. I have been through the most challenging times with my family, but I am still standing."

19. "When you got people behind you, you can do whatever you want."

20. "Experience is the best teacher. I have been through a lot; going to the Olympics, going to the finals, and having many good and bad games. It is a roller-coaster ride, and I am happy to be part of it. If it was easy, then everybody could do it."

21. "Everything in my life, I had to take it. They are not going to give it to you out of sympathy. I wouldn’t want it any other way."

22. "Set a goal and work every day for it until you achieve it. I want to be the best champion!"

23. "I’ve learned what it feels like to lose, believe me. But I think, in the end, that is just going to make winning that much better."

24. "I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord. I’m keeping strong at it, just trying to make my walk with faith a little better."

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KD Motivational Quotes On Self-Confidence and Being Yourself

No matter what, KD is focused on being himself and staying confident and comfortable in his own skin.

He says that he doesn't mind people doubting him, in fact, that motivated him to succeed even more.

25. "When people are used to you doing something, they want you to stay in that lane."

26. "With everything I do, I just try to be myself."

27. "My time is now."

28. "The clothes are not making me... If I like it, that's all that matters...It's not about the clothes. It's about how I am as a person and how confident I am."

29. "I'm an old-school type of guy."

30. "My style has changed and evolved mainly because I've grown to have more confidence in myself."

31. "Twitter is a place where I can let people know what type of person I am, and I got some excellent feedback from it. More good than bad, so it is a good outlet to let people know who I am."

32. "So many people doubted me. They motivated me every single day, to be who I am."

33. "I’m going to be me at the end of the day. And I think my family appreciates that. They’re happy for me that I’m finding out who I am, and I’m content with that."

34. "I like what I like, I am who I am, I know what I want to do, you know what I’m saying?"

35. "I want to show people who I really am, especially aspiring basketball players who want to be at this level. That’s what I’m about."

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Inspirational Kevin Durant Quotes About Work Ethic

KD is never content with his game, he is always working hard to improve every area of his game. The player that KD has evolved into today is a clear testament of his work ethic.

36. "I'm busy working on every aspect of my game - defense, shooting, rebounding - but I really want to become a better overall team player. Help my teammates become better players out on the court in order to win more ball games."

37. "I'm just trying to grow. That's one thing I told myself is, 'Don't worry about who people say is the best player.'"

38. "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard."

39. "I just loved being in the gym. It was tough at times. Sometimes I wanted to quit, but I'm glad I stuck with it."

40. "I love to get better. I love to challenge myself.

41. "It’s hard to play well, but it’s easy to work hard."

42. "Once [the confidence] kicked in, along with my work ethic and the people I had around me to push me...that's when it clicked for me."

43. "I know that hard work got me here. And the day I stop working hard, this can all go away."

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Quotes By Kevin Durant About Being Humble

44. "I've just got to let my teammates know in practice, without even telling them, that I don't think I'm ahead of anybody."

45. "I'm not a guy that's going to brag or feel like I'm better than the group."

46. "You know, I don't want to stand out too much."

47. "I will play all five positions if my team needs me to."

48. "If I’d gone straight to the NBA, I don’t think I would have been ready as a player or a person."

More motivational basketball quotes:

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