Kevin Durant identifies as a Christian. He has spoken openly about his faith, saying he reads the Bible regularly and even goes to chapel before games. He was baptized at Hillsong Church in New York, a turning point he describes as deeply spiritual.
Quick Profile: Kevin Durant
| Full Name | Kevin Wayne Durant |
| Date of Birth | September 29, 1988 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional basketball player (NBA) |
| Religion | Christian |
What religion is Kevin Durant?
Kevin Durant is a Christian. He has spoken about his faith, and along with other NBA players like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been noted for embodying the values of Christianity. In a 2011 interview Durant said, “It comes from my family. I went to a Christian school… My mom always sat me down and talked to me” when asked about the foundation of his faith. His mother, Wanda Pratt (also known as Wanda Durant), has spoken about raising him “in the Christian faith” and noted that “the word of God was always in my home. We went to church so it was always there”. Wanda has also said that Kevin “has always had a longing for the things of God… being in church and being in Bible study”. Growing up, Durant attended several Baptist and other Christian schools including National Christian Academy and Montrose Christian School which reinforced his religious upbringing.
As a professional, Durant has continued to practice his faith. He regularly participates in team chapels and spiritual meetings with teammates. Durant has said that he goes to chapel before every game and even works with a spiritual mentor or coach as part of his routine. During his time in New York, he attended services at Hillsong Church and was baptized by Pastor Carl Lentz. In interviews he described the baptism, saying “when I came out of the water, I just felt different… After that I was just so positive”. He has expressed admiration for Lentz’s authentic style of ministry, noting that Lentz dressed and related to people like “me” rather than in a formal pastor’s suit.
Durant’s faith also shows up in small ways publicly. He has religious tattoos (Bible verses and faith symbols) on his stomach, wrist, and back, and he often wears bracelets or jewelry with Christian messages. Observers note that after games he often publicly thanks God or bows in prayer. An early ESPN profile highlighted how during the 2010–11 season fans “saw that before every TV interview Kevin thanked God… he prayed at the scorer’s table, he hugged his mom, brother and his godfather before tipoff”. These and other gestures reflect a personal faith practice that Durant says gives him perspective. He has stated, “I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord” and credits his walk with God for making him a better, more humble person.
Early Life
Durant was born in 1988 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. His father left the family when he was an infant, so he was raised by his mother Wanda and grandmother Barbara Davis. He showed great height and talent from a young age, playing for local AAU teams and earning the nickname “Puff” in middle school. Durant’s mother exposed him early to church and faith. In fact, he attended primary and secondary school at private Christian academies including a school in Laurel, Maryland, and later Montrose Christian School where Bible study and worship were part of the daily routine.
By his teenage years he was already recognized as one of the top prospects in the country, eventually committing to play college basketball at the University of Texas at Austin. Even as a standout student-athlete, Durant continued attending church and keeping up his spiritual studies, influenced by his mother’s guidance and the mentors at his schools.
Career Highlights
Kevin Durant quickly rose to stardom in the NBA. After being selected No. 2 overall in the 2007 draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year (2007–08) by averaging 20.3 points per game. Over the next years he became one of the league’s premier scorers, winning four scoring titles (2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14) and earning the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2014. In 2016 Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, where he won back-to-back NBA championships (2017, 2018) and was Finals MVP both years. A member of Team USA, Durant also won four Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024) in international competition. By 2025 he has been selected to 15 NBA All-Star teams and named to the All-NBA team 11 times. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers in basketball history.
Durant’s playing style is often complemented by his character. He has been noted for discipline and humility as much as talent. For example, early in his career he famously arrived to shootarounds up to 90 minutes early, while praising older stars and insisting he would learn from anyone. In games he often interacted with young fans and remained calm under pressure. When winning his first title in 2017, Durant publicly thanked God in interviews and expressed gratitude for his teammates.
Personal Life
Durant has maintained a close family and personal circle throughout his career. He is very close with his mother Wanda, who has been a spiritual advisor to him. Wanda was portrayed in the Lifetime movie “The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story” (2015), which tells the story of her influence on Kevin. Durant also has a younger sister and two brothers, and he often acknowledges the sacrifices his mother made for the family.
Durant has never married and does not have children. In a 2021 conversation on Chips With Draymond Green, Durant explained his reasoning, stating that having children is a big commitment and he felt really focused on his work. He added that as he gets older and understands himself better, he eventually wants that family commitment when the timing is perfect.
Durant was briefly engaged to Monica Wright, a WNBA player, in 2013, but the engagement ended in 2014. Since then, Durant has kept his personal life largely private. He was rumored to be in a relationship with Cassandra Anderson, a volleyball player and real estate agent, but the couple reportedly separated in 2023.
Durant owns several properties in the Oklahoma City area and various other locations. He opened a restaurant called KD’s Southern Cuisine in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown neighborhood. Durant is also an avid photographer and was a credentialed photographer for The Players’ Tribune at Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
Awards and Honors
- NBA Most Valuable Player: 2013–14 season
- NBA Champion (2×): 2017, 2018
- NBA Finals MVP (2×): 2017, 2018
- NBA Rookie of the Year: 2007–08
- NBA Scoring Champion (4×): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
- NBA All-Star (15×): 2010–2024
- All-NBA First Team (6×), and Second/Third Team selections
- Olympic Gold Medalist (4×): 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Durant has also received numerous college and high-school honors (e.g. USBWA National Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year in 2007) and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. In 2018 he was included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list, reflecting his status beyond sports.
Philanthropy
Beyond basketball, Durant has invested heavily in his community. He founded the Durant Family Foundation in 2013, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of at-risk youth through education, sports and social programs. The foundation supports students in his hometown area (Prince George’s County, Maryland) and nationwide, funding scholarships and after-school sports. One notable program is “Build it and They Will Ball,” which renovates basketball courts in underserved communities. Durant also made headlines in 2013 when he pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross for tornado relief in Oklahoma. The Thunder organization and Nike matched that donation, effectively tripling the aid. His foundation and donations reflect a commitment to giving back that aligns with the “faith at work” ethos often mentioned by Durant and his family.
Career Earnings
Kevin Durant is among the highest-paid athletes in the world. As of mid-2023, his NBA contracts alone have earned him hundreds of millions of dollars. For example, in 2021 he agreed to a 4-year, $198 million contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets. His annual NBA salary around 2024 was over $40 million. On top of that, his endorsement deals have been extremely lucrative. He has earned tens of millions per year from Nike, and in April 2023 he became only the third basketball player ever (after Michael Jordan and LeBron James) to sign a lifetime contract with Nike. Celebrity financial trackers estimate Durant’s net worth around $300 million.
