Ever wonder what exactly Kevin Durant is doing with all those hand gestures just before taking the court to start every game? The guy has an extensive routine, and he has it down pat. After the team handshake line, Durant is paying homage to his people, past and present. Here's how Durant explained his thorough pre-game ritual to me recently.
I tie my shoes. I point to the sky for all my fallen soldiers. I tap my chest for my grandma and my mom. I tap my back for Maryland. And I point in the crowd to my brother.
You can see Durant's intricate routine starting at the two-minute mark below. (via Daily Thunder) -DM-
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Kevin Durant explains his pre-game hand gestures « The NBA Mistress | Olonggaek.comon Jun 07, 2012 @ 6:00 am
[...] Kevin Durant is no exception, except his is more intricate than the average player and he explains what it all symbolizes: [...]
Patti Newmanon Jun 06, 2012 @ 5:25 pm
Your link was awesome Lori. I had not read that article but enjoyed it very much!
Lori Brownon Jun 04, 2012 @ 10:54 pm
I read about that shoulder shake in an article where I also learned why he wears the number 35. I seem to remember that he saw someone else do that shimmy and decided to try it and it worked for him. Hope this is the right link, the article is called Kevin Durant humble in the heartland http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/columns/story?id=6530509
Chrison Jun 04, 2012 @ 9:31 pm
What about his shoulder shake before a free throw?
Ray Tennysonon Jun 04, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
Nice!! I did a painting of Kevin Durant in Bricktown OKC, check out the video on my site. Thanks
Brandonon Jun 04, 2012 @ 6:54 pm
Awesome. I think everyone has wondered what all these things mean. Thanks, Darnell.
Darnell Mayberry grew up in Langston, Okla. and is now in his third stint in the Sooner state. After a year and a half at Bishop McGuinness High, he finished his prep years in Falls Church, Va., before graduating from Norfolk State University in 2004.
Mayberry joined The Oklahoman’s sports staff in 2005 after a year at the Akron Beacon Journal, where he covered the University of Akron men’s basketball team, high schools and recruiting. Since arriving at The Oklahoman, Mayberry has become the leading authority on the NBA as the only traveling media member and the only reporter to cover every NBA game ever played in Oklahoma City.
He served as the paper’s beat writer on the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005-07, broke the news of the Seattle SuperSonics’ settlement negotiations with the City of Seattle in the summer of 2008, a development that allowed the team to relocate to Oklahoma, and has covered the Thunder since the franchise’s inception.
Mayberry and his wife, Courtney, were married in 2010 and live in Oklahoma City.
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