‘It means the world to me’

The lanky sweet shooter who outdueled LeBron James for most valuable player in the NBA Finals last year on the way to winning his first professional title said he hoped the facility would inspire local youth to continue pursuing their goals.

“There are so many bright minds here I think that need to be let out, so to have this opportunity it means the world to me, to my foundation, and hopefully it helps you guys out and hopefully it goes a long way,” said Durant, during an interview conducted by club members.

The perennial all-star whose second season with the Warriors tips off next month unveiled the court adorned with a fresh coat of silver and blue paint topped with his initials at half court through the work of the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation.

Hema Sareen Mohan, a club board member who helped facilitate Durant’s contribution, said she hoped the superstar’s presence and contribution would transform the goals for club members.

“This court will be a source of hope, inspiration and great pride,” she said.

While Durant shared a similar optimism, he said club members were not the only ones at the event finding a source of motivation.

“You can’t get anywhere without community, without people, without somebody lifting you up and you lifting somebody else up. Those days when you are feeling terrible — like I’m having a bad day today — but you guys are giving me life because I’m around great minds and great people and great energy,” he said. “So I need you guys. Like a lot of people might need me, I need a lot of people.”

Durant’s bad day may have had something to do with a social media controversy he was wrapped in the day of the event, following suspicious messages being spread on his Twitter account.

Durant, 28, used the day’s troubles to share with club members his methods for overcoming adversity.

“The problems that you’ll have during the day may seem like they are overbearing and too much. But the sun will come out and life goes on. I have to tell myself that constantly. I had to tell myself that today. So, don’t get discouraged, and at some point, the sun is going to come up,” he said.

Such positivity resonated with Yaritza Rodriguez, a club member who conducted the Durant interview before a room of donors, club officials and special guest Condoleezza Rice, the former U.S. secretary of state.

“Someone this big doing something like this — it shows they really care,” said Rodriguez, 15, who has been a club member since she was 5.

The Sequoia High School student has never conducted an interview with a star of Durant’s magnitude — barring Rice recently as well —  and said the chance was a realization of the opportunities discussed during the event.

“I never thought I could interview someone this big,” she said.

While claiming she believed Rice and Durant were equally interesting, Rodriguez helped draw out fun facts about the basketball stars’ preferences during a lightning round of questioning. Some of the details uncovered include Durant enjoying Starburst as his favorite candy, cheese as his favorite pizza topping, JaVale McGee as his most entertaining teammate and fish as his favorite food.

While the conversation illuminated some of Durant’s personality often guarded from the public, the event also offered him a chance to display the skills for which he is most known.

His off day may have followed him onto the court though, as the first three shots he hoisted bounced off the fresh rims. But true to the message of the day, in his final act before disappearing into a crowd of adoring autograph seekers, Durant rose above his troubles and finished his goal with an effortless dunk.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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