Before Kevin Durant was drafted second overall in 2007, he was just an 18-year-old prospect who had to manage the great expectations set for him by the people inside and around the NBA. So, it was only fitting that he saw LeBron James as a role model, as the then-Cleveland Cavaliers superstar played through the hype even while still a teenager.
In an interview with Time, sometime before he was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics, Durant was asked who he looked up to, and he responded by naming James, who would eventually become his rival and good friend.
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“LeBron James by far,” said KD. “The way he handled himself coming out of high school — he had a lot of hype, he never let it get to his head. He just played hard, and he lived up to his expectations. You never see him get in any trouble and things like that. He led his team to the Finals. He’s like the perfect athlete I think.”
Living up to expectations himself
It would have been difficult for Durant to bring up a different role model, as James had already turned into one of the Association’s finest players in 2007. He was fresh off a second consecutive top-five finish in the MVP voting and steering the Cavaliers to the franchise’s first-ever Finals appearance, a feat Durant emphasized in the sitdown with Time. What made it even more impressive was that he was just 23 years old then and had just completed his fourth season in the NBA.
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Interestingly, the earlier years of Durant’s professional career sort of mirrored James’. By the time he was 23, the former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar had five seasons under his belt, two of which saw him finish as MVP runner-up. In addition, he guided the Thunder to the championship stage in 2012. Incidentally, James stood in the way of winning his first ring.
As it turned out, the compliments Durant bestowed upon James have also been evident in his career. The University of Texas product lived up to the hype and likewise earned a reputation as one of the Association’s tireless workers. For example, his former teammate Vasilije Micic once shared that he included drills in his workout regimen on how to pass when he sees double-team coverage.
There’s no doubt that the two-time champion will go down as one of the most talented players to ever play on the hardwood floor. However, like James, he has not relied solely on his natural gifts. Instead, he has complemented them with hard work and determination.
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A legacy of jumping ship
Durant may have emulated James too much, though, as both of them have not exactly been icons of loyalty.
James was the first to jump ship, doing so in 2010 after multiple playoff heartbreaks with the Cavaliers. The thing is, people may have cut him some slack if he hadn’t formed a super team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He then changed teams twice more, and it remains to be seen whether he will bring his talents elsewhere again this offseason.
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Similarly, Durant chose to leave the team that drafted him to finally secure a ring. However, some people around the league aren’t impressed with his two titles, as they came after he joined the then-budding Golden State Warriors dynasty.
Would the future Hall of Famers’ legacies be different if they had remained loyal to their original squads? It’s tough to say because no one can say for certain whether they would have become NBA champions had they done so.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.