Kevin Durant Interview: All-Time Team, Personal Challenges and More

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant is currently in Spain as part of a promotional tour with Nike to promote his latest shoe line, the KD8.

Perhaps being without the familiar pressures of being in the U.S. – such as his injury status or impending free agency – put Durant in a more introspective and talkative mood, as demonstrated with this in-depth interview with nbamaniacs.com.

Durant spoke about the upcoming season, Oklahoma City’s top rivals, what motivates him through the grind of the regular season and even named his all-time starting five.*

During this upcoming season, what do you think is the main goal the Thunder should focus on?

A title. A title is the goal; what more can I say than that. It’s what we want. The individual awards are great but I don’t think about that. We want to win, win and win games to keep getting better.

Would you prefer seeing that the regular season schedule be reduced to 66 games or would you prefer that the season be extended to reduce back-to-back sets and remain at 82 games?

I think 82 games is the tradition the game was founded on and it should continue that way beside being very difficult to change that. It would be very complicated. Increasing the season to change the 82 games would be good for the body, to have more time to rest and more time to travel but it is what it is and that’s the way it’s comprised and we’re used to it.

What helps you get motivated during certain times in the season when you’re tired or because you’re exhausted you’re not playing your best?

It’s part of the adventure. You make mistakes, you have bad games, bad plays and failures…but, well, you have to keep going because after those bad moments comes the calm. Simply have to figure out those times, recognize and address those difficulties and be aware of them.

During your childhood, what was the most difficult or complicated part in the process of becoming a professional basketball player?

The confidence, the self-assurance. When you’re a kid you think about where you’d like to go but it’s hard because it seems so far away. I’m from a small town, hadn’t seen the world, but I dreamed of getting to the NBA. I knew it was going to be hard but, little by little, I started to have confidence and believe and think that I might actually do it. I’m exciting to know that it’s actually happened and now I want to leave my mark representing my hometown, be a source of inspiration for children and that they realize even though it’s hard, it’s possible.

Do you see yourself playing for 10 more years and having a career that might last reach into your 40s?

I hope so. I would like that. It would be another chapter. I’m 26 years old, but I already have a lot years, a lot games. Hopefully. I’m ready to win, to keep advancing my career and take the next step, but you have to day-to-day without thinking too much about the future.

At a personal level in developing your game, do you prefer smallball or a traditional with bigs?

Great question. I love the traditional game and I think it benefits me, playing with two quick guards outside and two bigs inside. Smallball lets me play on the wing or the pivot, playing different position to attack the defenses and I have to adjust. I also like it. I think the NBA tends to be more smallball and it forces to compete and get better and it’s fun.

What teams is your biggest rival in the West?

I wouldn’t be able to tell you. We’ve played a lot of them, like Memphis, who’s given us trouble and we’ve played three times in the playoffs. The Spurs are also a tough rival.

Is there any team that particularly motivates you to win?

We’ve had tough face-to-face matchups with the Spurs and Grizzlies, teams that we want to beat. It’s always fun to play against them because they make it hard but the reward of winning is great because the next time it’ll be more bearable.

Something more relaxed. Name three shoes that you couldn’t be without in your wardrobe?

There are so many. KD8…I was in Portland during the design process and I was very excited about the reaction to the new model. I don’t want to reveal everything but there will be a lot of really cool designs, that will be in a range of colors with amazing features that I love.

Finally, many of your followers want us to ask you about your ideal historic NBA starting five.

Wow, great question. I would take Magic Johnson because of his great height, court vision, and to be a triple-double machine. Alongside of him, Kobe Bryant is a legend and a five-time champion. He’s been in the NBA half of his life! Michael Jordan at the three…I’m sorry for Larry Bird but I have to leave him out for Kobe. At power forward, it’s tough between Karl Malone and Tim Duncan…I’ll keep Tim Duncan for longevity, his titles, and the impact that he’s had and continues to have on the court. And Shaquille O’Neal at center.

Questions and answers were translated into English by the author (David Ramil) and altered to be a more, in his opinion, realistic and colloquial translation.

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