It’s not often that Austinites are glad to have someone from Oklahoma on their turf, but when that person happens to be former Longhorn basketball player Kevin Durant, we welcome him with open arms. Durant was very busy this week, hosting a basketball camp for kids in Westlake and unveiling his new Nike sneaker, the KD9.
On the busy agenda was a launch party for the KD9 with designer Leo Chang, a Nike giveaway for UT students, and a media event with Durant and Longhorn coach Shaka Smart where members of the press got to try out the new sneakers at a 5-on-5 game at Gregory Gym.
He also made some kids’ hoop dreams come true at a basketball camp in Westlake that the Austin American Statesman captured in a photo essay. All within a 48-hour time period, all while fielding plenty of press questions about his current free agency status. Because that’s what Kevin Durant does.
Had a great time hosting the @BBVACompass contest winners at my @ProCamps. Excited to help create #BrightFutures pic.twitter.com/h7tXVufReq
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 21, 2016
In Nike’s promotional video for the newly launched sneakers, Durant dives into what he loves about Austin, while familiar images like the Stubb’s Bar-B-Q sign and shots of Sixth Street:
“The motto is to Keep Austin Weird, and that says it all,” Durant said while introducing viewers to our city. “Everyone here just has a free spirit around them, and I think that allows them to explore who they are as individuals.”
“It’s just an honor to be a part of this city and for this city to embrace me the way they did,” Durant said.
It looks like he had a great time back in Austin. Maybe the future will see him even closer to his alma mater as a San Antonio Spur… We can dream, can’t we?
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Featured photo from Kevin Durant’s Twitter
