Kevin Durant is most known as a professional basketball player that plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.
In his basketball career, he has won many awards, such as two Olympic gold medals, two NBA championships, an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, two Finals MVP Awards, two NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA scoring titles, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and was selected to ten NBA All-Star teams.
Kevin Durant has endorsements with Nike and Foot Locker and also leads the NBA in jersey sales. He even got into acting in 2012 when he appeared in the movie
Thunderstruck. All of this makes him one of the highest earning basketball players of all time.
How much does Kevin Durant read?
Kevin Durant is said to have read every day. In podcasts, he’s said that reading is one of his favorite things to do.
Book One: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
What is The Giving Tree about?
"Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy." is how The Giving Tree, a very famous children’s book, starts.
A boy would come to the tree to eat apples, climb, and swing from the branches. The tree loved it, but the boy wanted more, more, and more from the tree, and the tree gave, gave, and gave to the boy.
The book is metaphorically about the gift of giving and acceptance of one’s love. It is considered “one of the most divisive books in children's literature”, since people argue whether the relationship is positive or negative.
Although this is a children’s book, it can be interpreted differently by people of many different ages, whether it be religious, environmental, friendship, parental, or just plain satire.
Book Two: Red and Me by Bill Russell
What is Red and Me about?
Red and Me was written by basketball legend Bill Russell, who played for the Boston Celtics from 1956–1969. After he retired from playing, he went on to coach the Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Sacramento Kings. Like Kevin Durant, Bill Russell acquired a lot of awards from the NBA.
In his book, Red and Me, he pays homage to his longtime coach and mentor, Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach. He tells the story of this unforgettable relationship that helped create one of the most unstoppable dynasties in the history of basketball.
In 1957, when the Boston Celtics got Bill Russell, he didn’t think he would learn much from his coach, since his previous coaches were all white and had hardly helped him.
But, not Red Auerbach. He listened to his players, experimented, and put a team together based on results, nothing else.
Together, Bill Russell and Red Auerbach, won 11 NBA championships in 13 years. Together, they fought prejudice on and off the court, and created a team chemistry for the ages, as well as a lifelong friendship.
Book Three: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks For a Better Life by John Wooden and Jay Carty
What is Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success about?
Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success sounds like a multi-level marketing scheme, but it’s actually about legendary college basketball coach John Wooden and Jay Carty’s method of their success.
The book is broken down into 32 daily readings that each take a look at a single block of this pyramid for success. According to them “each block is a crucial principle contributing to lifelong achievement in every area of life.”
Being broken down into smaller daily readings help people who are usually too busy to read, and thus can’t benefit from any of the methods of success.
John Wooden and Jay Carty want to make sure that everyone has a chance to read the book.
Kevin Durant: Book Recommendation List
Since Kevin Durant is a daily reader, he probably has a lot of books under his belt, but these are his favorites.
Here is the list of Kevin Durant’s book recommendations with links for each to Amazon.
The Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinRed and Me by Bill RussellCoach Wooden's Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks For a Better Life by John Wooden and Jay CartyPer the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from purchases.
