[Iko] Kevin Durant: “To me, the value of my legacy and story is going down by the day… It doesn’t matter to me how my story is told. It doesn’t matter who says what. It’s more about the experience I went through and what I put down on paper every day.
With the pain and bitterness of last season’s playoff collapse against Golden State in the first round, Houston will draw upon KD’s experience. Durant’s 101 career playoff wins are more than the entire roster combined with room to spare.
But for Durant, who’s never been the type to yell from a pulpit or soapbox, these next few weeks are just as important for his young brothers growing up.
“More so than anything, this should be about their own individual experiences and what they take from them,” Durant says. “I can talk and give advice all I want, but every player needs to step into that situation and figure out what they need to do, regardless of what anybody else is doing. I’m excited for the team to have another opportunity to step into that.”
The definitive discourse on Durant, regardless of personal feelings, lies in the record books. A myriad of tales can be told about the slender man with a killer jump shot, but numbers have no agenda or ulterior motive. The stamp left by Durant on basketball is a far greater imprint than social media drama, rumors or antics. The man has been, and always will be, about the business of ball. And the Rockets, who have heavily invested in Durant’s stock price, are awaiting the playoff dividends.
“To me, the value of my legacy and story is going down by the day,” Durant says. “It doesn’t matter to me how my story is told. It doesn’t matter who says what. It’s more about the experience I went through and what I put down on paper every day. That’s the only thing you can’t diminish — the stats, the accolades, the stuff you acquire for doing the s*** you do on the court.
“But the story around all of that, I’ve become disinterested in it as I’ve gotten older.”