Kevin Durant sends a brutally honest reminder about ‘energy’ at age 37

Kevin Durant delivered a blunt reminder about his role and presence after The Houston Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-105 on Friday night, stressing that age has not diminished his influence.

Speaking in a postgame interview with SportsCenter, the 37-year-old was asked what kind of energy the Rockets’ young core brings to him on a nightly basis. Durant turned the premise on its head with a succinct response.

“I bring the energy, bro. I bring the energy, bro.” he added. “Just letting you know now. Sometimes I bring energy to these young guys.” laughing.

Durant then expanded on the dynamic between himself and Houston’s developing roster, describing a relationship built on mutual enthusiasm and daily competitiveness.

“Basically, they’re just enthusiastic players who enjoy growing, enjoy getting better. I feed off that energy every day, you know, it’s just a joy to get up and see these young guys who have just won so much in the league and are so excited to be in the league and have the opportunity to do some good things on the big team this year. So energy comes with energy, and I give it back.”

“What kind of energy do KD (the young guys) bring to you every night you’re out there?”

Kevin Durant: “I’m bringing the energy, bro… I’m just letting you know.” 😅pic.twitter.com/NmvPlshz7z

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 17, 2026

Kevin Durant’s 39-point outing against the Timberwolves boosts veteran energy for the Rockets

The comments followed one of Durant’s most dominant performances of the season. Against Minnesota, the veteran forward scored 39 points with seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block. He shot 11 for 18 from the field, knocked down 6 of 8 three-point attempts and made 11 of 14 free throws while logging 40 minutes.

Durant’s performance highlighted his continued ability to handle a big offensive workload while serving as a stabilizing force for a Rockets team balancing growth with expectations. In his first season in Houston, he averaged 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and one block per game. He is shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from beyond the arc in 37 games while averaging 36.5 minutes per contest.

Houston improved to 24-15 with the win and relied on Durant’s consistency throughout his current tenure. His scoring efficiency and late-game composure have been central to several close wins as the Rockets navigate a competitive Western Conference slate.

The Rockets will continue their five-game homestand against the New Orleans Pelicans (10-34) on Sunday night. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET as Houston looks to build momentum behind its veteran star and energetic young core.