Durant Gets In Work During Summertime

Ron Bailey, Publisher

During offseason at home, Kevin Durant still puts in work.

August 7, 2009 – The Jabbo Kenner League – a NCAA sanctioned Pro-Am League held at Georgetown University – has begun, to the benefit of player and fan alike; there are many talented players competing, creating what is known as good ‘bump’, and providing free entertainment for hoops head.

This year, the league boasts NCAA standouts like Georgetown’s Greg Monroe, future college players such as Mo Creek, and international professionals like Brian Chase. Though National Basketball Association pro Jeff Green represents well there, his Oklahoma Thunder teammate Kevin Durant, to date takes the title of the league’s best player.

Why would one of the best young players in the world’s top professional basketball league play in the Kenner League? Well, first, he’s a native of neighboring Prince George’s County, MD, a bedroom community well known for its basketball talent. But Durant, who dropped 25.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last year for the Thunder, also has incorporated Kenner in his off-season program.

As he drives around and shoots over NBA defenders, Kevin Durant does the same locally in Kenner League and Barry Farms action. (photo property of Sports Illustrated).

“It’s some good competition” said Durant of the league, who this summer is “working on ball handling, defense, and being more of a leader”.

During Wednesday’s action, Durant not only displayed his near-limitless shooting range, but seemed intent on getting to the rack. In doing so, he flung his svelte 6’9”, 215 pound frame towards the cup, and in the process absorbed significant contact. Though Kevin found himself on the ground several times, the budding NBA All-Star still played fairly hard, declining to take it easy.

Equally as impressive is this was his first action since starring in USA Basketball’s recent Basketball Showcase. “I’ve been off for a week” shared Durant. “I’ve been chilling after Vegas, but will definitely be back up here”.

That’s good news to Kenner patrons, as the league’s playoffs start next Thursday evening. Check i95Ballerz.com for continued Kenner League coverage.

Durant has also taken periodic advantage of another D.C. summertime tradition; the Goodman League, also known by its location, Barry Farms. With an outdoor setting in a government-run housing community, the Goodman League boasts food fare such as fried chicken wings and fish, set next to the city’s Suitland Parkway and visible from I-295. Physical, talent-laden action are also staples.

At ‘The Farms’, Durant is a well known participant, one with something of a target on his back.

“Yeah, you know a lot of those guys try and make a name for themselves at Barry Farms” opined Durant, when discussing how many of the players – many semi-pro or minor/international league guys, with the occasional NBA ballers – go at him. Hard.

It’s nothing Kevin hasn’t experienced for years at ‘The Farms’: One of his first tastes was as a rising senior, not very physically strong yet talented nonetheless. At that stage in his development, Durant liked to shoot, but avoided some of the banging that’s classically expected of a 6’9” player.

At the time playing for and with Curt Smith, a D.C. hoops legend and younger brother of G’Town great Charles Smith, Durant took the Barry Farms asphalt expecting to play on the wing, his natural position. Curt, aka Curt Bone, well known for working with and demanding much from young ball players had other ideas, as he said today via telephone “I told him to mix it up a little”, playing both on the outside and around the ‘hole’. While not necessarily comfortable, Durant complied, and held his own. Not bad for a kid 17 years old or so, competing against aggressive, older men.

“They were pushing me around before” laughingly recalled Durant of the game, one that he remembers to this day. “But they don’t do it now”.

Smith thinks those early experiences have been very beneficial to not only Durant, but others now playing pro ball, as “The physical play down ‘The Farms’ got dudes like him and Tywon (Lawson, the Clinton, MD product who was recently drafted in the NBA Draft’s first round by Denver), got them ready for the next level…Just to get that mentality, that physical stuff”.

It has Indeed. Now, Kevin Durant is the top dog, the one kicking behind and taking names. At all levels. And it began and continues during summertime in the greater Washington, DC area.