Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant tells top prospects to skip NBA combine
By Jeff Hawkins
Golden State Warriors center Kevin Durant offered a warning to top NBA prospects — avoid the combine.
Speaking to top NBA prospects about attending the draft combine, Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant drove straight to the point.
“Stay your ass home, work out and get better on your own time,” Durant told ESPN.
The league’s 2014 MVP and an eight-time All-Star, Durant is forging a Hall-of-Fame career and will soon cash in on another hefty free-agent payday. His weak effort at the 2007 combine, however, could have cost him a chance at being drafted No. 1 overall. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Greg Oden No. 1 and the Seattle Supersonics claimed the skinny shooter with the next selection.
How abysmal was Durant’s combine performance? He couldn’t bench press 185 pounds one time. His vertical leap was horizontal, agility drills were disorienting, and three-quarter-court sprint seemingly was done with half effort.
"“I remember it like it was yesterday. All the strength coaches were laughing at me. They were giggling with each other that I couldn’t lift 185 pounds, and I was like, ‘All right, keep laughing. Keep laughing.’ It was a funny thing, because I was the only one that couldn’t lift it and I was struggling to lift it. I was embarrassed at that point, but I’m like, ‘Give me a basketball, please. Give me a ball.’ ”"
Durant said the top prospects who declined to attend this week’s combine in Chicago, played it right. They have too much to lose, he suggested. His message has been circulating for a while. Young players are listening. Among the potential lottery picks, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, and Malik Monk decided to sit out.
The combine still serves a purpose for second-tier prospects, Durant conceded.
“It’s good for guys who are trying to fight their way into the first round, fight their way into the draft,” he told ESPN.
For the top picks, however. Come at your own risk, Durant warned.
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“Just work on your game,” he said. “(NBA officials will) see you in the individual workouts. They’ve been watching you all year. Your whole body of work is more important than just going (to the combine) for a couple of days.”