How Tall Is Kevin Durant In Real Life

Getting Introduced to Kevin Durant’s Basketball Stature

Kevin Durant, an enigmatic player in the arena of the National Basketball Association (NBA), brings an awe-inspiring dimension to the sport with his towering physique that somehow always attracts intrigue towards the question, ‘How Tall Is Kevin Durant In Real Life?’.

Let’s delve into this topic to uncover the facts about Kevin Durant’s height, one of the crucial factors behind his extraordinary career journey – starting from whispers about his projected vertical leap before he got into the NBA, through the height he reached at his prime, and up to his current height.

The Pre-NBA Years: Gears of Growth

Kevin Durant’s height journey started long before he stepped into the limelight of professional basketball. Born September 29, 1988, Durant grew up in Washington D.C., and by the time he was ready for high school, he already towered over most of his peers.

Always among the tallest in his class, Durant reached a height of 6’3″ by the age of 14. His vertical size quickly became a distinct feature that set him apart on the court, allowing him to make shots from angles that would have been impossible for lesser players.

By the time he was 16 and playing at Montrose Christian School, Durant had grown to an imposing height of 6’8″. His size, along with his exceptional skills, earned him the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year award in 2006, and he was also named in the McDonald’s All-American team.

As he transitioned from high school to college basketball at Texas, Durant hit the magical 7’0″ mark with shoes. However, Durant chose to downplay his actual height, continually making claims that he was only about 6’9″. This surprise you? Well, let’s dig more into this.

Downplaying Height: The Psychological Play

In the world of professional sports, where everything is measured to the millimeter and gram, it may seem surprising that an athlete would want to be considered shorter than they actually are. Yet, this is precisely the case with Kevin Durant.

In multiple interviews throughout his career and even during the NBA draft process, Durant insisted that he stood at 6’9″. Why would Durant – a towering menace on the court, undeniably standing above most – insist on being seen as comparatively shorter? It might have been a psychological move that aimed at shaking opponents’ strategies or to avoid being typecast into certain roles on the court.

According to Durant, the downplay was primarily to avoid being classified as a ‘big man,’ traditionally associated with centers and power forwards who are usually positioned near the basket. Given Durant’s skill set, he preferred roles that allowed him more freedom and versatility on the court, playing as a wing or guard.

Kevin Durant’s Height in the NBA: The Real Measure

Breaking Down the Height Disparity: With and Without Shoes

After being drafted to the NBA, the scenario morphed into a different story. The official height listings in the NBA sometimes show sharp disparities when compared to real heights of players. And Durant’s case was conspicuously surrounded by a similar cloud of obscurity.

The NBA, for most of its history, used to list players’ heights with shoes on. This practice gave birth to many discrepancies, with players’ heights varying by 1 to even 2 inches. Durant, when measured with shoes at the NBA combine, stood a very impressive 6’10.75″, almost 7′ tall. But Durant continually maintained that he was 6’9″.

However, as of the 2019-2020 season, the NBA made a significant change in its approach. It decided to provide the ‘without shoes’ height of players. With this new norm, Durant’s official height was listed as 6’10” – which firmly settles the debate on ‘How Tall Is Kevin Durant In Real Life’, at least without shoes.

It should be clarified that the 6’10” figure doesn’t make Durant one of the tallest players in the NBA, but it’s his unique combination of height, wingspan and skill set that makes him one of the most formidable players on the court.

Durant’s Unique Basketball Physique: Height and Wingspan Combo

While having a height of 6’10” is impressive enough, what truly sets Kevin Durant apart is his extraordinary wingspan. A player’s wingspan tends to be about the same as their height, give or take a few inches. But Durant boasts an astonishing 7’5″ wingspan.

This five-inch advantage over his height allows Durant a sizable edge on the court, giving him the ability to shoot over defenders, reach for rebounds that would be otherwise unreachable, and even block shots that would be typically insurmountable.

The towering height compounded with his exceptional wingspan and agility on the court makes him a lethal opponent, capable of being a threat from virtually every square inch of the hardcourt.

Kevin Durant’s Height: An Unfair Advantage?

The question of Durant’s actual height might seem trivial to the casual observer. But to those who understand basketball, and especially for Durant’s opponents, his height is a significant factor that influences his gameplay and the strategic implementation of his team.

Interestingly, Durant’s height isn’t necessarily about being the tallest person on the court. It’s about how his unique height allows him to leverage his skills with an extraordinary level of effectiveness. Durant’s height and length enable him to shoot over pretentious defenses, pass to his teammates over opponents, and defend the rim with tracking shots that are typically considered unblockable.

So, while Durant’s height is certainly an advantage, it wouldn’t be as impactful without his talent and well-honed skills. Given that, does Durant continue to grow tall? Answering this question takes us to intriguing facts about the human body.

Scientifically, most people stop growing taller after they hit puberty, but there have been instances where certain individuals have experienced height growth in their early twenties. Currently, at thirty plus years, Kevin Durant’s height is unlikely to experience any significant changes. As such, fans and fellow players can probably put their curious minds to rest when it comes to the question, ‘How Tall Is Kevin Durant In Real Life?’

All in all, Kevin Durant’s height is not just a fascinating topic for fans and media to ponder on. It’s an integral part of his game strategy and a key tool in his kit, making him one of the NBA’s most exciting and agile giants.

Kevin Durant’s Height

Kevin Wayne Durant, known as one of basketball’s leading players, is renowned for his significant height. He came into the limelight due to his exceptional prominent height combined with his outstanding abilities on the court. Durant’s listed height is 6 feet 9 inches in most National Basketball Association (NBA) statistics. However, many argue that this may not be his true height.

Upon closer inspection and from the player’s own admission, Durant’s actual height is closer to 6 feet 10 inches when he is not in his basketball sneakers. When he’s on the court, in his shoes, Durant is likely a full 7 feet tall. This revelation has stirred quite a buzz among fans and followers. Durant’s towering height only adds to his impressive presence both on and off the basketball court.