Kevin Durant has been looking like he shed some years in his play with the Houston Rockets so far this season, and that is in part by design. The Rockets star has been putting in the work needed to prepare for a run at the NBA title in the busy Western Conference since the start of the 2025 NBA offseason, and the results on the court have been evident.
Speaking in a recent interview with RG’s Mark Medina, trainer Dash Lovell opened a window into that preparation Durant made with him this summer at ProActive Sports in Thousand Oaks, California, for the season currently unfolding for Houston — and more importantly, how it set up Durant and the Rockets for a real season of contention with the former No. 1 pick playing not that far removed to when his rookie season was still a recent memory. “This past summer, he spent a lot more time focusing on his body and making sure that his body felt well,” said Lovell.
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“Even with playing so many years, he’s still drawing the same type of attention,” he added. “But the focus is to continue to be strong, be physical and be able to compete at a high level and make sure that his body felt well and make sure that he’s defending at a high level.”
Nov 1, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Hugo Gonzalez (28) defends Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
As to how he saw Durant approaching the season like it was early in his career, Lovell replied “It was his preparation. He’s getting up early. He’s going to bed early. (Durant) would be the first one there lifting on a weekend and then canceling anything that interfered with his work.”
“For example, if he had a commercial or something he had to do, if he didn’t do basketball first, he would say, ‘Nah, I’m not doing that. I got to get my work in first.’ He still put the game before everything else. That kind of approach is beautiful to see. It’s beautiful to watch. From the person that is on the outside and not playing to the person that is inspiring to play, he can show you how to get it done.”
“He’s definitely a great example for young guys, older guys, or anybody,” he added. “He just loves the game as well as life and business itself.”
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This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Durant put in work ahead of this season with the Rockets, trainer says