Kevin Durant made a nostalgic return to the Bay Area over the weekend, and now he’s heading back to his educational roots. This Thursday, the Phoenix Suns are set to face off against the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, Texas—a game that serves as a homecoming for Durant, who spent one memorable season playing college basketball with the Texas Longhorns.
“This game holds great significance for me,” Durant expressed. “I’m thrilled that we have the chance to play a regular-season game there. Austin is where my journey began, and to reconnect with so many friends and family members from that time—more than 16 years ago—is really special. I’m thankful to the NBA for organizing this unique opportunity.”
Durant’s time at the University of Texas during the 2006–07 season was nothing short of remarkable. He finished the season with impressive averages of 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds, ranking fourth nationally in both categories. This stellar performance earned him the title of player of the year from various outlets, including the Associated Press. Following that season, he declared for the NBA draft and was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007. Since then, he has amassed an incredible list of achievements, including being the only male player in USA Basketball history to secure four Olympic gold medals. He has also won two championships with the Golden State Warriors and is now the eighth player in NBA history to reach the 30,000-point milestone.
Rodney Terry, the Texas head coach, stated, “This provides an incredible chance for Durant and offers the city of Austin an opportunity to show support for one of our standout players, who is still enjoying a successful career. He has surpassed 30,000 points and ranks among the all-time scorers at both collegiate and professional levels. To return to the place where you played college basketball and compete in a game against a top-notch organization like the Spurs is an ideal scenario.”
The Spurs have made it a tradition to play two home games in Austin for three consecutive seasons, which is located about 75 miles northeast of San Antonio. The team is intentional about developing this mega-region, extending their reach even into Mexico. Playing in Austin breaks the monotony of their annual rodeo road trip, which usually keeps them away from home for much of February due to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
In addition to facing the Suns, the Spurs will also compete in Austin against the Detroit Pistons on the following night. The Suns arrived in Austin earlier in the week, and one of Durant’s first stops was to visit the Longhorns’ practice facilities.
When asked about his plans in Austin, Durant noted, “I’m eager to explore the city a bit. I don’t have a specific agenda, but there are a few spots I’d like to check out.”
While Austin is predominantly a Spurs territory—home to the team’s G League affiliate—it’s also expected that many fans will be sporting Texas Longhorns jerseys as well as Durant’s gear during the game. Terry added, “Having Durant back here this week and allowing him to interact with our players is an incredible experience. Many of our players idolize Kevin Durant, which is why they chose to come to Texas. His influence on our basketball program, as well as Texas athletics overall, is tremendous. He serves as a remarkable ambassador for our university.”
