The 2023 playoffs have taken everyone on a rollercoaster ride. Among the many teams that successfully got past their opponents in round 1, the Kevin Durant-led?Phoenix Suns were at the forefront of discussions. Although KD and Co. had a shock defeat at the start of the series, they quickly bounced back to clinch the matchup in game 5. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant had even better news awaiting him at the end of the series. He recently created history by entering a rare club consisting of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and potentially Stephen Curry.
KD recently signed a massive deal with Nike that paves the way for athletes to dream bigger. Former NBA legends and the whole NBA community welcomed the stunning move from the ‘Slim Reaper’ with heaps of praise.
Kevin Durant praised by ex-NBA star after massive achievement
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Back in 2007, when Durant first stepped into the league, he wore his Nike shoes to the court. The company has been with Durant since his rookie season in the league. At the time, many couldn’t have predicted Durant’s rise to superstardom in the NBA in the next decade or so. But the two-time NBA champion has come a long way after that.
A true honor to be in the game for life with @Nike https://t.co/VNj1IJUVWG
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 28, 2023
Fast forward to 2023, Kevin Durant just signed a lifetime contract with Nike, joining the rare list of individuals who have been able to do so. Durant is the third NBA star to sign a lifetime deal with Nike following Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Needless to say, he is in elite company, something many couldn’t have predicted 15 years ago.
However, KD kind of did. After signing the historic deal, Durant spoke on his journey with Nike. He has collaborated with the company to release 15 shoes, with the 16th coming on the shelves in August. In a few words, the 13-time All-Star revealed how this contract was more of a belief than a dream.
🔥
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) April 28, 2023
“I did to be honest. I did think that,” said Durant, when asked whether this contract was a possibility in his head in 2007. He added, “If I stayed focused and I stayed locked in to what I knew I could do, I could do some big things and I could have a huge part with Nike.”
Former Charlotte Hornets icon, Rex Chapman saluted Durant’s mentality by responding to the tweet with a fire emoji. Moreover, Chapman wasn’t the only one loving KD’s staggering achievement. The NBA community poured in with a lot of love for the two-time NBA Finals MVP on social media. After Durant’s announcement of the rare deal, the news was retweeted by over 3,000 people and reached over 1.3 Million users, spreading quickly among his fans and followers.
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However, there might be someone else joining the elite company pretty soon. Durant’s old teammate, Stephen Curry. The Warriors superstar signed a long-term extension with Under Armour, that is set to turn into a billion-dollar lifetime extension. It would be a rare sight, where three superstars from the same era would be a part of an unprecedented club in basketball.
Do you think anyone else in the recent crop of basketball stars could achieve this milestone? Let us know in the comments below.
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