Kevin Durant helped the Golden State Warriors claim their second NBA title in three years, and now he’s about to help other folks from other parts of the globe.
ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported that on June 27, Durant will be in India to spread a couple of basketball-related goodwill.
First on the Finals MVP’s agenda is a stop in New Delhi to donate two new basketball courts to the Ramjas School, with funding from the project courtesy of the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation. He’ll then make his way to the city of Noida, where the NBA Academy India is located, to host a youth clinic for nearly 5,000 participants both male and female.
Durant will be the first player to pay a visit to the NBA Academy in the country with the second-highest population in the world. The eight-time All-Star could not have been more thrilled about his trip:ˇ
“I’m excited to travel to India to help promote the game of basketball and meet the prospects at the NBA Academy India,” Durant said. “I’ve wanted to visit India for a long time, and I can’t wait to experience the country’s unique culture and share my knowledge with the kids there.”
Ever since joining the Warriors, Durant has not had the warmest of receptions from a great majority of NBA fans for forming a superteam with a Golden State squad already filled with elite players like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. But by reaching out to other NBA fans outside of the United States, he’ll deservedly garner a lot of respect for his inspired work with people from other nations.
It’s rather tempting to link Durant with snake charmer jokes about this latest development, but it’s definitely harder to deny the huge heart and dedication he has for the game of basketball and the wonders that the sport can do to improve the lives of young people regardless of race, gender, and social status.