Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is this year’s Most Valuable Player in the NBA. Hear his heartfelt speech inside…
Grab a tissue! Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant won his first Most Valuable Player award and during his speech, he got a little choked up as he thanked all of the people in his life who made it possible.
Coming off of a career high regular season, the 25-year-old small forward took the No.1 spot over LeBron James (coming in 2nd) and Blake Griffin (who came in 3rd ). The OKC standout helped his team with a 59-23 regular season record, which was the 2nd best in the league.
During his speech, he fought back tears as he thanked his mother Wanda Pratt (who was a single mother) for raising him and his brother the best she knew how.
"You made us believe," Durant said to Pratt, who was at the ceremony in Edmond. "Kept us off the street. Put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn't eat, you made sure we ate. You sacrificed for us. You're the real MVP."
Kevin acknowledged the veterans that came before him who challenged him and the rookies who inspire him to do the right thing since they look up to him.
"Everything in my life, I had to take it," Durant said. "They're not going to give it to you out of sympathy. I wouldn't want it any other way. This was another case, if I wanted to win the MVP, I had to go take it. I felt that this was the year I did that."
Not only is he the MVP, but he also landed the cover of NBA 2K15.
"I've been an avid fan and player of NBA 2K since I was a kid, and being selected as the sole cover athlete of NBA 2K15 is an amazing accomplishment at this point of my life," says Durant in a statement. "I feel like my time has come."
Nice! Gotta love a professional athlete who doesn't take anything for granted.
Check out his emotional acceptance speech below:
Congrats Kevin!
Photos: Kevin's IG
