Everyone knows how much Kevin Durant loves his mother, Wanda Durant.
The Golden State Warrior let his mama’s boy status be known in 2014 when he earned the league MVP and tearfully proclaimed in his acceptance speech, “mom, you’re the real MVP.”
On Monday, Durant and his teammates secured the championship title for the 2016-2017 NBA season and the Maryland native was named Finals MVP. As confetti fell upon him, the 28-year-old reached for his mother’s embrace and once again on the center stage she became the most valuable mother, cheerleader and supporter.
Throughout Kevin’s career, from his days as a Longhorn at the University of Texas at Austin to being drafted in 2007 to the now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics, developing his talent with the Oklahoma City Thunder and signing with the Golden State Warriors, Wanda has made it a point to support her son every step of the way.
In so many ways she’s just like all our mom,s and we love it!
Here are all of the reasons why she is simply everything:
1. She raised her children as a single mom.
Raised in Prince George’s County, Kevin and his brother Tony were raised by their mom after their parent’s divorced. During his 2014 MVP speech, Kevin thanked his mother for her sacrificies to ensure he and his brother had the very best while growing up.
“You waking me up in the middle of the night in the summertime, making me run up a hill,” he said. “Making me do pushups. Screaming at me from the sideline at my games at 8 or 9 years old. We weren’t supposed to be here. You made us believe, you kept us off the street. You put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn’t eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You’re the real MVP.”
*cue tears*
2. She’s always color coordinated and fly.
Ms. Wanda does not come to play, only slay. While sitting courtside at various NBA games, you can always catch Mama Durant with a fresh hairstyle, a beat face and a outfit tailor made for a queen!
3. She loves to take photos with some our faves.
Because she singlehandedly raised one of the best the NBA has ever seen, being mom to Kevin Durant has it’s perks. While out and about, Mama D is known for stopping for a quick flick with some famous names.
5. She’ll defend her son no matter what.
After signing with the Golden State Warriors, many including sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, felt like the NBA superstar was disloyal to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After announcing he would be switching teams, Smith said this of Durant: “He’s aged. And along the process of aging, he’s gotten more arrogant, he’s gotten more disrespectful, he’s gotten more dismissive, particularly of the fans,” Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take.” “To be quite honest with you, he hasn’t gotten smarter. And the reason why he hasn’t gotten smarter is because the younger Durant never would have said something so flagrantly disrespectful toward fans.”
Because no one messes with her baby, Wanda appeared alongside Smith on ESPN’s First Take and said, “‘Who are you, Stephen A., to come at my boy like that?’” Oop!
Congrats to Kevin and his mom Wanda, she’s the truest MVP!