Kevin Durant celebrates after dunking. (Robert Cole)
Kevin Durant’s performance created an evening for the ages at Rucker Park.
“Some nights are very special,” DC Power guard Randy (White Chocolate) Gill said. “This is going down as one of those special nights.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star shook off a slow start and poured in an astounding 66 points to lead DC Power to a 99-93 win over the Sean Bell All-Stars in front of a standing-room only crowd at the Entertainers Basketball Classic on Monday night at streetball’s most famous park.
Durant, who led the NBA in scoring last season, connected on 9-of-11 3-pointers, including five straight from well beyond NBA range, early in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-9 forward was mobbed on the court by fans standing along the sidelines after a fifth straight trey.
“I always wanted to play in Rucker Park all my life,” Durant said in a postgame interview with park emcee Hannibal.
The performance was one of the best ever at the Rucker. Streetball legend Joe (The Destroyer) Hammond still holds the park record with 74 points and Steve Burtt Jr., set the EBC mark of 68 back in 2007. Sean Bell stopped the game with less than a minute to play after double and triple teams on Durant, who had 23 points at the half, failed. Durant played every minute of the game and quickly left the court to duck into a waiting black SUV.
“We were trying to get the ball out of his hands quick because we know he is a great shooter,” said former Seton Hall guard Jeremy Hazell, who tried to match Durant shot for shot late. “He was shooting right over us and knocking down a lot of shots. That’s just Kevin Durant.”
Durant’s jumper wasn’t falling early, forcing him to go to the basket instead. He had a one-handed slam in transition, caught an alley-oop and converted a powerful dunk over a defender before the half. Eight quick points after the break got him going. Durant, who averaged 28.3 points per game last season, hit consecutive 3s, including a step back, converted a pretty underhand layup before connecting on two more from behind the arc with multiple defenders on him.
“Right now he is the best player in the world,” said Gill, who knew Durant growing up.
The former Texas standout, who led the Thunder to the Western Conference finals, recently said he was 50/50 about playing overseas with the NBA in the midst of a lockout. He embraced the atmosphere from the start. He didn’t shy away from putting on the show the fans came to see. Durant got in the face of a smaller Sean Bell guard who attempted to play tight defense early on and played to the crowd on every dunk.
“I do this,” Durant said.
What he did was create another memorable night at Rucker Park, where recent NBA players like Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant among many others have all played.
Durant created his moment.
“At halftime we were like we got to press him, because if we don’t he is going to heat up,” Hazell said. “That’s what he did. He heated up. It was just a great game, a great atmosphere.”