‘He’s the ultimate vet:’ How Kevin Durant is embracing his role as a leader of the Rockets

HOUSTON — Kevin Durant is standing at the free-throw line. It’s the closing act of Rockets practice, and the slender 37-year-old is locked in a tense battle with second-year guard Reed Sheppard, veteran Aaron Holiday and two-way guard JD Davidson while classic R&B tunes fill the Memorial Hermann training center. Here, the only shots that count are the ones that don’t touch the rim, Durant’s second language.

Assistant coaches Royal Ivey and Josh Bostic are there to encourage the non-Durant participants, but it’s futile. Durant is a near-career 90% free-throw shooter and wins the competition with ease. Most afternoons end like this. Still, the routine, which has become a rite of passage, is more valuable than the actual outcome. There’s no downside for these Rockets to be near greatness, even during one of the most rudimentary aspects of basketball.

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“Just being in the same gym with him, same practice and being beside him, I’m just in awe,” Davidson said. “Hearing him talk, seeing how he always works out at full speed, even at that age and the career he’s had, is crazy.

“He’s the ultimate vet, the ultimate brother.”

(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

Durant’s presence, which the Rockets aggressively sought to acquire this offseason, is worth more than a simple competition, especially during a season in which starting point guard Fred VanVleet has been lost. The lessons on display from the future Hall of Famer have made an immediate impact on the Rockets, who are 9-3 and third in the West, and his growth as a leader is critical to the team’s success.

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Houston is embarking on a brave, two-timeline expedition, one born from a heartbreaking first-round exit six months ago — and one few teams have emerged from successfully. Blending young talent with experience and striking a balance between the two requires an outside-the-box approach. Something that appears to suit Durant well.

Durant’s 2007 draft class is now littered with retired players, a few NBA coaches and a litany of forgotten names. How he’s been able to last this long in a cutthroat league — while…

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Author : Kelly Iko

Publish date : 2025-11-19 14:44:00

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