Kevin Durant Reflects on His Early ‘Risky Decision’ at Age 9
Kevin Durant knew from a young age that becoming a professional basketball player was his only path. Failure was never an option.
Many children dream of playing sports professionally, performing in front of thousands of fans in arenas and millions more on television. However, most college athletes pursue careers outside of sports, as NCAA commercials often highlight. The odds of reaching the professional level are extremely slim, especially for those who don't even make it to college athletics.
A Childhood Dedicated to Basketball
It's hard to picture Kevin Durant as anything other than a basketball star. Now in his 18th NBA season, he has built a career that ranks him among the all-time greats. Durant appeared on the podcast Not This Again with Bobbi Althoff, where he shared insights into his early mindset.
“I had no clue” what I was going to get a degree in, Durant said when asked by Althoff.
Durant attended the University of Texas for one year. While he enjoyed college life, his main focus was basketball. He left early after being selected as the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, launching his professional career.
No Backup Plan, Just Basketball
Unlike many who prepare alternate plans if their dreams don’t materialize, Durant was different—he devoted everything to basketball from the start.
His unwavering commitment and early clarity on his goal made all the difference in his journey to becoming a basketball legend.
“I basically majored in basketball,” Durant explained about his college experience.
Author’s summary: Kevin Durant’s unwavering focus and risky childhood decision to pursue basketball without a backup plan defined his path to NBA stardom.