Kevin Durant’s reputation well-established before MVP speech

SLIDESHOW - TheGrio has put together a list of five things about Kevin Durant that has left an indelible impression on NBA fans since he was drafted in 2008 with Tuesday’s MVP speech being the latest example..

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

This week, Kevin Durant delivered an endearing and poignant acceptance speech after winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.

The 25-year-old fought back tears as he thanked his mother and all of his teammates individually.

His speech captivated not only the sports world but morning news and cable shows as well. It was a reminder of why Durant is so respected on and off the court.

But what led to the buildup of universal praise of Durant’s acceptance speech?

TheGrio.com has put together a list of five things about Durant that have left an indelible impression on NBA fans since he was drafted in 2008. The “speech” is the latest — not the first — example of what makes Durant so great.

Carrie Healey contributed to this story.

Click here to read more sports stories on theGrio.com

SHARE THIS ARTICLE