NBA fans knew that Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns was going to be something special as soon as he entered the league.
And one specific game in a memorable summer league was his first chance to see just how special he really was.
FanDuel Sportsbook noted that Monday marked the 17th anniversary of Durant scoring 29 points against the Utah Jazz in NBA Summer League.
Durant shared his memory of the day on Twitter, saying, “I remember a fan beating a police officer to death as I got off the bus to the gym, time flies.”
While Durant clearly had his own unique perspective on the day, fans remember being impressed by the young forward’s ability.
I remember a fan beating a police officer to death as I got off the bus to the gym, time flies https://t.co/9oZtATv095
— Kevin Durant (@KDTre5) 17 July 2023
Durant was selected as the second overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, just behind Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers.
He was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics and was thought to be one of the best shooters of all time.
Certainly, Durant has demonstrated his potential during his 15 years in the NBA.
He has been named an All-Star 13 times and the scoring champion four times.
Additionally, he earned a spot on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team as well as league MVP.
He has also won the Finals twice and won the Finals MVP both times.
That Summer League game in 2007 was the start of an impressive first season as Durant averaged 20.3 points on 43% from the field.
It earned him the Rookie of the Year trophy and alerted the rest of the league: a new future Hall-of-Famer was on the way.
next:
NBA Insider Explains Why The Suns Traded Cam Payne