KD In Need Of An Image Makeover

A few years ago I was thrilled to find out that the week’s service at LifeChurch was going to include an interview with Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. I had managed to overlook the fact that KD had gone to the University of Texas for a year before being drafted by the Thunder, and at the time I felt like he was a great role model for kids who paid attention to the NBA.

In the interview, he talked about how his relationship with God was the most important part of his life and I came away impressed with who he was as a person. But, unfortunately, a lot has happened since 2013 when that service took place, and this week has highlighted who KD really is.

This isn’t the first time I’ve taken my shots at KD, but he has evolved from being a great person and a great basketball player to being exactly what people don’t like about professional sports. On top of everything he has done to show us just what his character really is, we have self-proclaimed experts on TV and radio telling us that KD’s decision to go to Golden State was merely a business decision and that the fans need to just accept it as that. Unfortunately, that equation factors in billionaire owners and millionaire players without taking into account those who help generate money used to pay the players’ salaries through their ticket and sports memorabilia purchases – the consumers.

What happened this week is just further evidence that KD is a very insecure person who has some growing up to do. His ramblings on Twitter in which he ripped the Thunder coach and the players not named Russell Westbrook were indicative of someone who has had an axe to grind. The bad part for him is that he did it in a way that didn’t follow his plan and he came across looking like “a idiot.”

The thing is, KD is always going to have to deal with the decision he made. The Thunder were up 3-2 over Golden State in 2016 when KD’s abilities suddenly disappeared and the Thunder lost the final two games. As we have learned since then, KD was already talking to Warriors’ players about signing with them as a free agent. Clearly, he was distracted. Otherwise, the Thunder could have easily been good enough to be NBA champions not only in 2016 but the following year as well (had KD re-signed with OKC).

I’ve often said there is a trend in the U.S. these days to hire kids to do the work of adults and KD is another example of that. He may have out-of-this-world talent when it comes to playing the sport of basketball, but his mental state is as underwhelming as that of another famous tweeter who is stealing headlines in the political world.

Yes, I have completely changed my perception of KD since that day I found out he was a part of the church I have attended for years. That probably won’t change because his decision to leave is irreversible, but I still hold out hope that one day he will get it. He needs to grow up and start acting like a man. Then, and only then, does he have a chance of being treated like one.