OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant walked into his postgame news conference following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 1 victory over the Nuggets and climbed to his seat atop a podium with three things in hand.
His cellphone, a pair of headphones and a Bible.
The first two, Durant has always carried. The third item was included only recently.
For the past 44 days, Durant, the Thunder’s two-time all- star and reigning two-time scoring champion, has become a Bible-toting ballplayer. Since March 8, Durant has read passages each day from the black leather Bible he carries with his name engraved on the front cover.
Durant has been spotted digesting passages at his locker before games, which is not uncommon inside NBA locker rooms. Teammate Serge Ibaka has done the same since he entered the league. The sight of Durant thumbing through the Good Book, though, represents just another reason why many observers have labeled Durant a special kind of superstar.
“I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,” Durant said. “It’s something I always talked about, but I never really got into it.”
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Durant decided to commit himself to a covenant of daily worship March 7. The Thunder was in Memphis for a game against the Grizzlies. During a trip to pregame chapel, which more than half of the Thunder’s roster attends regularly, Durant found his final source of inspiration.
The team chaplain for the Grizzlies, like Durant a Maryland native, stressed what a difference daily reading can make. The minister told the young man that even a scripture a day can change his life.
The next day, Durant began his devotion.
“I’m keeping strong at it, just trying to make my walk with faith a little better,” Durant said. “That’s making me a better person, opening my eyes to things, and I’m also maturing as a person. I’m just trying to grow.”
Nick/Ray combo. Thunder reserve power forward Nick Collison fondly recalled a playoff victory in Game 4 at Sacramento while with the Seattle SuperSonics during his rookie season in 2004-05.
“I think (career 3-point king) Ray Allen and I combined for 50,” Collison said. “He had 45 and I had five. You can look it up, but I remember Ray played great that game.”
Halfway there. Thunder players and coaches reiterated a 2-0 lead is only halfway there.
“I’m happy that we protected home, and we did what we were supposed to do,” center Nazr Mohammed said, “but like everyone says, ‘The series doesn’t begin until you win on the other team’s home floor.’ We haven’t won on their home floor yet. . . . If they win two games on their floor, we’ve got a series.”
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