Kevin Durant has gone through quite an evolution during his 11 years in the NBA. As JAY-Z once rapped, he "went from the favorite to the most hated." But, according to Durant, what we're seeing these days is his genuine self.
The likable version of K.D. we saw during his first nine years in Seattle and Oklahoma City? He now believes that guy was a "phony," according to FOX Sports NBA insider Chris Broussard.
"Durant texted me and said, 'the guy you see now is the real me. The guy in Oklahoma City was the phony—I was just trying to please everybody and do what I thought everybody wanted me to do,'" Broussard relayed on First Things First Wednesday.
Broussard also explained how Durant's faith and relationship history have impacted his personal development.
He's a conflicted guy. There's a part of him that's religious. He has ministers come visit him and hang out with him during the season. Then there's a big part of him that's doing things that don't match up with his faith. He was engaged a few years ago. His fiancee broke up with him, she said he stopped living like a Christian. And I've talked to him about that. He's conflicted in that regard with who he is in terms of that. And then on the court...the guy we saw in Oklahoma City was not cursing all the time, was not being as aggressive in terms of arguing and maybe fighting with guys or getting technicals.
There's no question Durant has changed a lot, as we all do in our 20s. With his 30th birthday approaching, Durant is under contract for the 2018-19 season, but he has a player option next summer.
