Kevin Durant is still looking forward to his return, as the three-time Olympic gold medalist eyes his fourth. His status for the first group stage game isn’t out yet but the good thing is, he’s working out with the team. He’ll also be participating in as many scrimmages as possible before hitting the floor in Paris. While KD works his way out of recovery, his teammates highly acclaimed his nickname for being among the best on the roster. Now, Slim Reaper is actually quite unique when compared to other nicknames.

Chef Curry, King James, The Brow, and others are also on the board, but Slim Reaper is just different. Durant on the other hand didn’t exactly feel worthy of this nickname at first, but eventually got the hang of it. “Slim Reaper? I love that nickname. Before, I didn’t think I was worthy enough for it. I ain’t do enough yet. But now?…”, said Durant. The two-time champ and Finals MVP definitely has the resume to be worthy enough of any nickname. There’s yet another nickname that was not mentioned by the players even once, ANT-Man. Now, ANT-Man seems more like a short form for Edwards‘ first name followed by ‘Man’ to give it a Marvel reference.

While quite a few of the monikers include the player’s first or last name, Slim Reaper doesn’t. At best, it throws shade at Durant’s physique, standing tall and lean. Nevertheless, this nickname is better than KD’s yet another name, Durantula. For the most part, Durantula is definitely not bad but falls short of popularity when compared to Slim Reaper. KD has been a killer from the mid-range and a threat in clutch moments. He’s still considered unguardable from the fans’ perspective, and for the most part, it is true.

At 7 feet tall, his handles impersonate that of a guard, he can drain threes like a shooting guard and is an overall strong finisher at the rim. When he gets to work, his versatility puzzles the defender, making his next move completely unpredictable. But out of all the possible nicknames for the two-time champ, why Slim Reaper?

What is the meaning behind Kevin Durant’s nickname?

The first name Slim, of course, refers to KD’s physique, being a 7-footer at 240 pounds. Compared to the other players at his height, Durant does seem skinny, but then again, his game speaks for itself. The word Reaper here does not refer to someone who harvests crops. Instead comes from the mythological character, the Grim Reaper. And because Durant gets to work at night (when most of the NBA games are played), the nickname suits him the best.

It is safe to say that it is a more catchy and suitable nickname when compared to others. It will be interesting to watch the Slim Reaper hopefully get to work on Sunday against Serbia, as his return remains questionable. What are your thoughts on Slim Reaper? Do you think Durantula or some other moniker would suit him better? Let us know in the comments.

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