NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 17, 2024

Kevin Durant

Western Conference

Media Day Press Conference

Q. What are you thinking when you see the recent spate of 70-point games from individuals? And what are the circumstances or what's going to be required, do you think someone can get 80, 90 and close to 100 in today's game?

KEVIN DURANT: When I see those high-scoring games, I just think about the skill that has come into the league and how great these players really are and how great offense is always going to beat great defense all the time.

You watch Luka's 70-point game, and he's making tough shot after tough shot. I definitely feel like someone can break that 80-point. 100 points would be tough to do in a game. You've got to make every shot and get a lot of shots up to get to 100. But I think somebody could get 80.

Q. Kevin, for a long time you and Steph and LeBron have sort of been the faces of the league, almost a generation now. As you look to this younger generation of guys coming up behind you, do you see any obvious candidate to sort of take on the mantle from you guys when you eventually are done playing?

KEVIN DURANT: I think each era has about six or seven guys that help carry the game forward, help push the game forward. It's more than just Steph and LeBron and myself. It's the James Hardens, Russell Westbrooks, Kawhi Leonards, Paul Georges, a lot of these guys who inspired the next generation of hoopers to want to be professionals. There's more than just one or two guys.

You look around the league -- I'm going to miss a lot of guys, but you see Shai, Ant, Book, Luka, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton. There are so many guys inspiring the next generation of hoopers after them to become basketball players that you can't just pinpoint it to one or two guys.

It's about pushing the game forward, setting a different standard, how we play. These guys are doing it right now.

Q. What has been the most memorable game in your entire career and why?

KEVIN DURANT: That's a tough question. You put me on the spot. If I had to say one, I would say probably Game 6, 2012 Western Conference Finals, up 3-2 (against) San Antonio. We were down 20 at the half at home, and we had to rally to get to the Finals. At 23 years old, that was probably something that stood out the most.

Q. You and Devin, why do you think you guys have clicked so well so quickly?

KEVIN DURANT: Because we hang out off the floor. I think that's most of the battle. When you get to know your teammates that deep, we almost to this point know what each other is thinking. I hung out with him a lot since I got to Phoenix and this past summer, and we worked out obviously.

Hanging out, playing video games, going out, having a drink. All that stuff helps when you're trying to gain chemistry as a team. It's been great getting to know him.

Q. On the court, obviously you and Devin talk quite a bit. He said that you give him confidence. What does he give you?

KEVIN DURANT: Same thing. I feel like we're both confident players. But when you've got that extra support out there to just go do what you do, sometimes you need that, especially when you're one of the lead guys on the team. You focus on so much other stuff -- your teammates, scheme, strategies -- and sometimes you need somebody to relieve you of all that stuff and just go play, and that's what we do for one another.

Also, our coaching staff does that for us, as well, and our teammates. When you've got support like that, it just makes you a way better player.

Q. Can you tell me what it actually means to be an A&R "For All The Dogs?

KEVIN DURANT: Whenever Drake just wants to talk about life, I'm just there for him. And then he just gave me that title.

Q. When is your album dropping?

KEVIN DURANT: I doubt I have an album dropping. I just do it for fun.

Q. If you're trying to slide into somebody's DMs, what's your line?

KEVIN DURANT: Where you at?

Q. I'm right here.

KEVIN DURANT: Who gave this guy a mic? Say that again?

Q. If you're trying to slide into someone's DMs, what's your line?

KEVIN DURANT: "Hi." That's it.

Q. You have played with superstars and great combinations like Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry. In my opinion, the best chemistry you have developed, it's Curry, obviously, because you won two championships. Did it ever cross your mind to go back and play with him at the end of your career?

KEVIN DURANT: I think I've had great chemistry with every point guard. I think, to be honest, I played longer with Russ, so I think I probably have more chemistry with him.

We came up together as 19-year-olds. We played eight seasons together, and he knew me inside-out. Obviously, I had great success with Steph. I don't want to discredit that. But I don't want to also discredit what me and Russ did, as well, as a duo.

Yeah, I had great chemistry with every player, like Kyrie, as well, Book, as well. We had success as a team with the Warriors, for sure. But I feel like I had great chemistry with all of the guys I played with.

Q. At this point in your career, when you've already accomplished so much, what do you hope to still accomplish, and what do you hope your legacy is once you end up retiring?

KEVIN DURANT: I just want to keep being available every day, keep adding to what I did already. I never go into any day trying to accomplish anything. I just put the work in, and whatever happens, happens.

Legacy, I just want to be respected amongst people that actually played the game, and players that are aspiring to be where I'm at, I want to be respected by them. And that's it.

Q. Now that we've kind of seen the 65-game minimum kind of in practice, in actual practice, I just wonder what you think about it as kind of setting a baseline for awards and if that's something that should be going forward or if there's something else that works better?

KEVIN DURANT: Some guys get injured, man. Some guys just get injured. I think the 65-game rule for the load management, but I think load management sometimes comes from these organizations too when they force you to sit out of games and guys may be injured. I don't know. It's tough. It's tough.

I just want guys healthy and on the court too. I guess that's what the solution is, try to get guys to stay on the court. It's just something we've got to deal with. I won't say I love it or I hate it either, but it's just something we've got to deal with.

Q. Excluding the Suns, what has been the best team you've seen this season and the best player?

KEVIN DURANT: Every night my best player and my top fives and GOATs, I feel like every week they change. I feel like this last week right before the break Minnesota was playing good ball. Clippers playing great ball. If anything, I'd probably say Clippers and give it to Kawhi as the best player I've seen.

Q. Steph versus Sabrina, who you got and why? And what do you think this moment will mean, especially for women's basketball?

KEVIN DURANT: Yeah, I got asked this question three times over the last three weeks. My final answer today is I'll go with Steph.

I just think the fact that you got the men's and women's game coming together to just help celebrate the game of basketball is always good. Sabrina is such a great ambassador for the women's game -- I don't even want to call it the women's game. For the game of basketball in general. Steph is such a great ambassador.

So when we get them both on the floor together to shoot some basketballs, it's always going to be fun. I'm looking forward to it. It's a new event we have, and hopefully we can do more stuff like this with the WNBA, as well, and All-Star Weekend. So I'm sure they're going to put a show on.

Q. Later today is the HBCU Classic. As someone who supports HBCUs, how important do you think it is for these schools to have an opportunity to be on a platform such as All-Star?

KEVIN DURANT: It's huge. It's huge. It's an opportunity for people around the country to see the type of talent they have at HBCUs. There's a lot of hidden gems there, great coaching, great talent up and down the board.

If we can give them the platform to showcase their talents and skills, we need to do so. So I'm excited for them. Hopefully this becomes an annual thing and we start to see more and more talent come out of HBCUs.

Q. You spent a lot of years, both international and in the NBA, playing against and with Patty Mills. What impact do you think he's had on the international game, Australian basketball, and the NBA?

KEVIN DURANT: Just a flat-out legend. For the Boomers, right? Boomers. He's been a constant for that program since I've been in the league.

They play with such a toughness, and you know that comes from their best player, which is Patty. And then having an opportunity to play with Patty for two years in Brooklyn, I see why he's become such a legend over there. He's so passionate about where he's from. He's so passionate about just the culture itself and basketball. He's an extremely hard worker whose journey should be spoken about with some of the best.

He continues to push the game forward and inspire a lot of people. That's what I love about this game.

Q. I know you've been doing All-Star weekend for many years, but what is the thing that you look forward to every year coming back?

KEVIN DURANT: Just being around the greats. Even if it's a couple minutes, you can soak up some type of knowledge from these guys. You just get so much energy seeing other greats, other Hall of Famers, all the other champions in the building with you. So to be in that atmosphere with them is probably the best part.

Q. What do you think about the season of Victor Wembanyama, and what do you think he can achieve before the end of the season?

KEVIN DURANT: Man, that dude can achieve anything he wants in this game. He's only getting more comfortable as time goes on. 20, 10, 3 1/2 blocks a game, 2 or 3 assists. It's just insane how dominant he's going to be as he gets more comfortable in the game.

Luckily I'm on my way out, so I won't have to deal with it too much. You just see him settling in game after game after game, and it's going to be a joy to watch.