In his pregame routine, Kevin Durant cultivates his excellence
« I miss his workouts after practice. He was fascinating in these moments. “So Steve Kerr spoke in 2020. amazed by the routine of Kevin Durant from the time they worked together in the Warriors.
Today, this routine impresses Rockets staff or fans. About two hours before each game, they can witness a long grace sequence where “KD” makes baskets from all possible angles.
« There are so many things on my mind. I don’t want to forget certain items in my palette and have them disappear. If we don’t use them, we lose them », notes the Rockets superstar Houston Chronicle, which devotes an article to the topic.
The star approaches his preparations with the same strength he shows in the middle of a match, which is one of the many reasons why he is among the best players in history. ” That’s what happens when pure talent meets mindset », describes Royal Ivey, an assistant in the Rockets and a longtime acquaintance of Kevin Durant, whose warm-up he supervises.
The two played together for several seasons in the early 2010s with the Thunder. After retiring, Royal Ivey retrained as an assistant with the Thunder, then found “KD” in Brooklyn with the Nets. The two were reunited in Houston this season.
So he is in the foreground in the show of his former teammate, during which it is a question of working close to the circle, at medium distances and at 3 points. Kevin Durant also starts, in unconventional fashion in the modern era, with mid-range catch-and-shoot shots, his favorite opening drill since childhood.
“He doesn’t want to grow old like a shooting star”
« Every shot was a rehearsal in game conditions, everything was in the details. (…) the intention behind every shot, the concentration invested in every attempt. (…) It simply aged like a good wine. (…) I don’t describe him as a simple shooter. It is an absolute masterpiece. », praises the assistant.
A masterpiece by a 37-year-old veteran who repeats every movement year after year, performing it at full speed. Leaning forward, scanning the unseen defender, his body tense and ready to pounce with his ‘stances’, before overpowering his imaginary opponent.
Like at a game. “ It’s about programming my mind to hit my shots and focusing on the target to get them in », Describes the multiple All-Star, who is still averaging nearly 26 points this season, with exceptional efficiency (50.6% including 40.3% from 3-point range and 88% from free throws).
« It’s hard to repeat excellence every morning. And that’s why he’s on this pedestal and playing at such a level: it’s because of his state of mind. They will never accept anything less. If he was mediocre, if he averaged 15 or 17 points or came off the bench, he probably wouldn’t be in the league today. He wouldn’t want to play. He doesn’t want to age like a shooting star », picture by Royal Ivey.
According to the latter, a good warm-up is recognized by sweat and the sound of the net. Bad training then? ” I’ve never seen one », the technician smiles at his star… everything but shooting.
https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=28zAJ7Bgkko
| Kevin Durant | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | OKC | 80 | 34:36 | 43.0 | 28.8 | 87.3 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 20.3 |
| 2008-09 | OKC | 74 | 38:59 | 47.6 | 42.2 | 86.3 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKC | 82 | 39:30 | 47.6 | 36.5 | 90.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 30.1 |
| 2010-11 | OKC | 78 | 38:57 | 46.2 | 35.0 | 88.0 | 0.7 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 27.7 |
| 2011-12 | OKC | 66 | 38:35 | 49.6 | 38.7 | 86.0 | 0.6 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 28.0 |
| 2012-13 | OKC | 81 | 38:30 | 51.0 | 41.6 | 90.5 | 0.6 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 28.1 |
| 2013-14 | OKC | 81 | 38:33 | 50.3 | 39.1 | 87.3 | 0.7 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 32.0 |
| 2014-15 | OKC | 27 | 33:49 | 51.0 | 40.3 | 85.4 | 0.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 25.4 |
| 2015-16 | OKC | 72 | 35:48 | 50.5 | 38.7 | 89.8 | 0.6 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2016-17 | GS | 62 | 34:32 | 53.7 | 37.5 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 25.1 |
| 2017-18 | GS | 68 | 34:11 | 51.6 | 41.9 | 88.9 | 0.5 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 26.4 |
| 2018-19 | GS | 78 | 34:38 | 52.1 | 35.3 | 88.5 | 0.4 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 26.0 |
| 2020-21 | BKN | 35 | 33:03 | 53.7 | 45.0 | 88.2 | 0.4 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BKN | 55 | 37:13 | 51.8 | 38.3 | 91.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 29.9 |
| 2022-23 | BKN | 39 | 35:58 | 55.9 | 37.6 | 93.4 | 0.4 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 29.7 |
| 2022-23 | PHO | 8 | 33:38 | 57.0 | 53.7 | 83.3 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 26.0 |
| 2023-24 | PHO | 75 | 37:13 | 52.3 | 41.3 | 85.6 | 0.5 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 27.1 |
| 2024-25 | PHO | 62 | 36:32 | 52.7 | 43.0 | 83.9 | 0.4 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 26.6 |
| 2025-26 | NEW | 50 | 36:42 | 50.6 | 40.3 | 88.0 | 0.5 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 25.8 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-18 16:45:00
