NBA
Durant Receives Award For His Work In The Community
Who has had a better two-year NBA run than Kevin Wayne Durant? Durant has just finished hoisting his second consecutive Finals MVP trophy along with two NBA Championship trophies. Life for KD has to be sublime! However, Kevin Durant is focused on winning more than the scoring titles, MVPs, and NBA Championship trophies.
His focus is also on winning in his community. In addition to the rigors of preparing to perennially dominate the NBA landscape, Kevin Durant selflessly dedicates his time and financial resources to help at-risk youth. He helps the youth in his home state of Maryland (Kevin hails from Seat Pleasant, PG County, MD) through his Durant Center.
The Durant Center provides financial aid and educational support tools to assist aspiring students to obtain entry into college. Additionally the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation’s Global “Build it and they will Ball” Initiative has renovated basketball courts around the world giving low-income children access to sports.
KD Knows How Hard It Can Be For At-Risk Youth
These initiatives are not by accident. Kevin knows the struggle these children face from his humble beginnings. As a child, Kevin’s mother put him and his brother in sports to keep them off the rough streets of the Washington D.C. metro. Spending countless hours at the recreation center, Kevin discovered his love for basketball and knew early he wanted to play in the NBA.
Though he had a dream, it was not easy. Kevin’s mom sacrificed mightily to create a way for Kevin and his brother. She worked feverishly to make ends meet while ensuring she was available to provide her presence to keep them tracking towards their dreams.
Kevin’s height and talent played into his favor as he would grow to become the basketball phenom we enjoy watching today. However, his heart remained grounded to his own beginning, knowing how hard life can be if not supported. Durant is ensuring children in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) and around the world has a fighting chance. This may be Kevin Durant’s greatest assist and score of all.
He will be a champion forever in these children’s lives, even if they never witness him play a game. He is truly a worthy recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award. This may be the one ESPY that is a testament to the true goodness and positivity that can be generated by professional athletes to help make our future world a better place.
