Kevin Durant speaks with the media during NBA Media Day at Toyota Center. Credit: Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images

Kevin Durant has seemingly accomplished it all during an NBA career that spans nearly two decades.

Multiple NBA titles. NBA MVP. Perennial NBA All-Star. NBA scoring titles. Recognition as one of the NBA’s top 75 players of all-time. Riches.

The natural question is what is left out there for Durant? Of course, another NBA Championship would be great, but during his formal introduction as a member of the Rockets, Durant said he wants to continue building on the Durant family name.

“I’ve got a lot of family, I have hundreds of family members, so my last name is really important to me,” Durant said to the Defender. “I just want to continue to shine a bright light on my last name, lead by example, set a good example to people. Just put way more respect on my last name than previous people in my family have done. They’ve done a great job up until this point, but I’m ready to take it to the next level.

“I just want to continue to push my last name out here, to be honest, behind the game of basketball. People know me for hooping, so it’s a great platform to be on right now.”

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While the 37-year-old Durant insisted that he isn’t as concerned about legacy, he did discuss his motivation during his first formal meeting with the press since the July trade during the Rockets Media Day on Monday.

“I just enjoy that process of perfecting a craft. I enjoy competing against myself, being better than I was the day before,” said Durant, who says he is motivated to sign an extension with the Rockets but has not done so yet. “As you get older, you dive into the details of everything in your life. When you become detail-oriented, you become nerdy. It’s kind of fun to be in that mode. That’s my peaceful place when I’m perfecting, trying to perfect my craft.”

In perfecting his craft, the Rockets hope Durant can help them make a hopeful march back into the NBA elite.

In the biggest blockbuster trade of the offseason, the Rockets executed a trade with the Phoenix Suns that brought Durant to Houston while sending rising star Jalen Green out to the desert. After a return to the Western Conference Playoffs ended much sooner than expected last season, the team decided this offseason to speed up its rebuild with the addition of the well-traveled Durant.

It seems like a risk for the Rockets, who may have mortgaged their future for an older star player who has left his last four stops in controversy. However, the risk is clearly worth the reward for Rockets coach Ime Udoka and general manager Rafael Stone, who jumped at the opportunity to bring aboard one of the game’s most prolific and elite scorers of all time.

The decision was made to swap the veteran for the star in the making.

“We love Jalen and he is definitely still young and growing. My expectation is he will continue to. That was kind of a given,” Stone said to the Defender. “But what we looked at is that (there are) not many people in the history of the NBA who have the capacity to do what Kevin has done consistently throughout his career.

“We just felt like that … It became an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up. It really had nothing to do with the guys who moved out. It was much more about Kevin and desiring to bring him in. He is kind of a singular talent. So we are very excited about him.”

“I’ve always had respect for this coaching staff, this fan base and this state, this city. So it feels right.”

Kevin Durant

In joining the Rockets, Durant has more familiar surroundings than he has had in a long time. He and Udoka have an extensive bond after the Rockets coach not only played against Durant but also coached him with the Brooklyn Nets and on USA Basketball. Veteran journeyman Jeff Green and Durant have the distinction of being the only two players still in the NBA who played for the Seattle SuperSonics and this will be their third time playing together. Steven Adams and Durant also spent time together on the Oklahoma City Thunder roster. During the offseason, Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. have been working out together.

It just seemed like the right fit to Durant when he knew his brief stint in Phoenix was coming to an end.

“I just quickly just thought about who I was comfortable with, which coaching staff would let me be me and understand what I bring to the table,” said Durant, who starred at the University of Texas as a one-and-done player during the 2006-07 season. “Ime has always been one of those guys that understood what I brought to the table, my mentality and my approach to the game. He has always respected that and gave me my space to be me.

“That was one of the first things I thought about. Living in Texas, working with some of the people I’ve worked with before, but also seeing the identity of this team the last few years, playing with length, having size, playing in transition, driving and kicking, switching on defense. All of that stuff is tailor-fit to my game, so I wanted to play that style, too.”

The addition of Durant, of course, puts an instant bullseye on the Rockets, who are now one of the favorites to come out of the Western Conference with his addition. The Rockets now have the instant offense and scoring that they lacked as the No. 2 seed during their first-round loss to the Golden State Warriors in May.

Udoka believes the 6-foot-11 Durant will be the Rockets’ answer to those offensive lulls and their ability to close out close games.

“Just those aspects alone obviously improve our consistency across the board,” Udoka said. “We can avoid some of the struggles we had offensively at times and not just have to lean on defense and look at different things to make it work. When you have a guy like him, you can put it in his hands and he can deliver like he has throughout his whole career.”

What’s maybe most amazing is the high level of play Durant has continued this late in his career. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 53% percent from the field. Those numbers are not far off his career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, while shooting 50% from the field.

His new teammates and those who have been around him at various stops attribute Durant’s sustained success to his tireless work on his game and body.

“His work ethic, the attention to detail for his craft is insane,” Stevens said to the Defender. “To watch other NBA players work out is great, but to watch KD work out, you’re like (expletive)  … damn! You know that it’s different. You sense that it’s different just because of how high of a standard. It’s kind of like a fine-tooth comb that he is with his stuff. You just watch and learn how someone really hones their craft. It’s interesting to see.”

Smith, whose game is similar to Durant’s, is excited about what his addition can mean to the team and also his growth.

“It feels great. Being able to work out with him, seeing how hard he goes, seeing his everyday routine is something that is just going to help me in the long run,” Smith said. “The time I have got to spend with him, I’ve already learned a lot.

“I’m just excited to keep learning with him, excited to push him. It’s going to be some fun.”

Durant is also looking forward to the season. But he understands the challenge, especially after star point guard and playmaker Fred VanVleet recently suffered a torn ACL that will likely sideline him for the season. That is going to force Udoka to reach deeper to hasten the play-making abilities of Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.

Durant, who will also factor into the playmaking mix, believes this team can make it happen and he is excited to see it play out this season.

“I just think that playmaking is a team thing,” said Durant, who celebrated his 37th birthday Monday. “As many plays as we make for each other throughout the game, the better. If we play together, we play off each other and move our bodies, then move the ball, then we all can showcase our playmaking talents.

“We have high-IQ guys on the team who know how to play. Now we just have to figure out what’s the best way to mesh on the floor and then start executing from Day 1. I’m looking forward to that.”

Kevin Durant’s Highlights

Big 12 Player of the Year (2007)

I've been with The Defender since August 2019. I'm a long-time sportswriter who has covered everything from college sports to the Texans and Rockets during my 16 years of living in the Houston market....