Kevin Durant makes a multi-million dollar donation to the University of Texas
By Ian Levy
Kevin Durant only spent one season playing for the University of Texas. Now he’s donating $3 million to the university.
Kevin Durant played just one season at the University of Texas, making quite an impression. Durant led Texas to a 25-10 record, averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 40.4 percent on 3-pointers. Along the way he was named Big-12 Player of the Year, and National Player of the Year by the AP, Sporting News and the USBWA. All that was enough to have him selected as the No. 2 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Apparently the University also left a mark on him. Today it was announced that Durant would be donating $3 million to his alma mater, with part of the funds supporting the school’s Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation and the rest supporting the basketball program.
Durant explained the donation in his own words in a press release.
"“My time as a Longhorn helped build the foundation for who I am today as a player and a person, and the UT team will always be my family. It’s important to me to continue to give back to The University and ensure that future student-athletes have all the opportunities they need to succeed. It’s an honor to have such a close and unique relationship with Texas Basketball, and I’m grateful to be able to contribute.”"
Also per the press release, “Durant’s donation is the largest outright gift by a former Texas Basketball student-athlete in school history and among the largest gifts ever by any professional athlete to his alma mater.”
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Durant’s philanthropy has been prodigious lately and it’s great to see a player determined to use their wealth and influence to make a difference for others.