KD Kevin Durant's relentless pursuit to be the greatest

Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors may be the best player in the NBA. Thompson tracks Durant's life from his youth in Washington, D.C., through his professional career with the Oklahoma City Thunder and, now, the Golden State Warriors. The book is especially strong in analyzing how Durant's playground experience in D.C. shaped his game, and, in so doing, it provides a wonderful analysis of the stylistic differences in playground ball across different regions: D.C. is all about scoring, New York City is defined by playmaking, Chicago is all about explosiveness, etc. Thompson is also very good at showing how media stereotyping has driven public perception of Durant. Initially, he was the Good Guy, deferring credit to the way his mom raised him and pledging loyalty to Oklahoma City. Then, after he moved to Golden State, realizing that to win championships, he needed to play for a big-market team, he became a heartless mercenary. Tossing aside these oversimplifications, Thompson evenhandedly presents each step of Durant's odyssey and peppers the journey with wonderful basketball background and personal anecdotes.--Wes Lukowsky Copyright 2019 Booklist

NBA star Kevin Durant has won two NBA Championships, two Finals MVPS, and made ten All Star appearances. Once regarded as a humble star on the -Oklahoma City Thunder, he has been cast in a negative light since joining the Golden State Warriors. Thompson (Golden: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry) seeks to understand Durant's complexities, beginning with his childhood being raised by his mother and grandmother on the outskirts of Washington, DC. Despite his thin physical stature, Durant's mental toughness and work ethic propelled him to become a star player at the University of Texas at Austin. In the NBA, the Thunder became a powerhouse with the superstar duo of Durant and Russell Westbrook. Despite the accolades, Durant grew frustrated with their inability to win a championship. Thompson describes Durant's pivotal decision to join the Warriors and the criticism that resulted, as well as the intricate relationships with teammates such as Westbrook, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green. Beyond basketball, Thompson covers the importance of religion in Durant's life as well as his frustration with the media. -VERDICT Recommended because of -Durant's ongoing popularity; the player's childhood and teenage years are the highlights of this balanced biography.-Chris Wilkes, Tazewell Cty. P.L., VA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.