Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant Roasts

Commonly referred to as KD by the basketball fraternity, Durant is a member of the U.S. men’s national basketball team, where he has won three gold medals in the Olympics and is the leading scorer in the team’s Olympic basketball history.

When it comes to monumental achievements in his career as a basketball player, KD has won an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, two NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, two Finals MVP Awards, four NBA scoring titles, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and two NBA championships. 

Durant has been selected 14 times as an NBA All-Star, been named to 11 All-NBA teams, and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team 2021. KD is currently signed with the Phoenix Suns, and, as an athlete, has had a successful career so far, putting up absurd scoring numbers every night during the in-season.

However, on the nights when his performance is not as would be expected by fans, he tends to be on the receiving end of hate and criticism, specifically from bettors who end up losing money. 

Kevin Durant On Sports Bettors Who Are Sore Losers

Sports betting has become legal in many states and countries and has amassed a huge following. Basketball fans worldwide have taken to betting on the best NBA players and teams through top online casinos such as those listed on Casinojungle.ca in the hopes of good payouts. With expectations set high, it has become common for fans to tweet and message players when a bet they placed doesn’t hit based on their performance on the court.  

It is this behavior that Kevin Durant pushed back against in a tweet where he wrote, “When I get ya paid, u don’t DM me and send a small percentage to my CashApp, but when them parlays don’t hit, I’m every name in the book.

Y’all ain’t real.” KD called out those who approach him on social media unhappy about his performance when they lose bets, yet when his performance has them cashing out, he receives no appreciation. Durant becomes the latest in a growing list of athletes to stand against this double standard from fans.

Kevin Durant’s Charitable Work 

When he is not calling out sports bettors on social media who are sore losers, Kevin Durant is well known for his charity work. During the off-season, KD takes time to engage in several charity activities and community interactions through The Durant Family Foundation (DFF), a foundation he launched with his mother in 2013.

The foundation aims to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through athletic, educational, and social initiatives. Some of the foundation’s initiatives include: 

• THE BUILD IT AND THEY WILL BALL Initiative 

This initiative was launched in 2015 to increase the number of high-quality basketball courts worldwide that are accessible to underprivileged youth. So far, 30 basketball courts have been renovated in 18 cities across North America, Asia, and Europe.

Recently, KD was in Stockholm, Sweden, visiting the Elinsborg School’s basketball court renovated last year through his initiative. The court in Tensta, a neighborhood known as a “no-go zone,” has now become a safe hub for young basketball enthusiasts. Durant interacted with local kids, shot some hoops with the young players, and engaged with the community to leave a lasting impression.

• The Durant Center in Prince George’s County

The center, launched in January 2019, serves as a community hub for residents in Prince George County. It runs programs for teens and young adults interested in STEM training, entrepreneurial leadership, digital skills, financial literacy, workforce development, and career readiness.

The center is continuously exploring other programs and partnerships to educate and empower the community as well as become a thriving ecosystem of community-centric public services. 

• The Team Durant Basketball Program

The Team Durant basketball program features 18 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, through which high-level youth development is achieved. This development is relayed through the provision of education, athletics, and personal growth resources. Over the past three years, athletes under the program have received over $35 million in college athletic scholarship offers. Furthermore, the Team Durant basketball program organizes annual community service projects to engage the youth.

• The College Track Program

The College Track is part of the Durant Center’s initiative to support students through high school graduation and college. Through this support, there were 51 high school graduates in 2022 and 37 high school graduates in 2023. Of the 37 who graduated in 2023, 10 received full-ride university scholarships.

In 2018, Kevin Durant was named Sports Humanitarian of the Year and received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his community leadership and positive impact. Five years later, he continues to transform communities through sports and bravely fights for underprivileged youth.