Kevin Durant: Most Recommended Books | Ninth Books
Originally published at Ninth Books
As a professional basketball player with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant is best known for his position on the court.
He has received numerous honors throughout his basketball career, including two Olympic gold medals, two NBA championships, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, four NBA scoring titles, two NBA All-Star Game MVP Awards, and nomination to ten NBA All-Star teams.
Kevin Durant is the NBA’s top jersey seller and has endorsement deals with Nike and Foot Locker. In 2012, he even made his acting debut in the film Thunderstruck. He now ranks among the basketball players with the highest lifetime earnings thanks to all of this.
How much does Kevin Durant read?
Kevin Durant says that he reads every day. He has mentioned reading as one of his favorite activities in podcasts.
Book One: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
What is The Giving Tree about?
“Once there was a tree … and she loved a little boy.” This is how The Giving Tree starts.
When a boy visited the tree, he would climb, swing from the limbs, and eat apples. The boy desired more, more, and more from the tree, and the tree gave, gave, and gave to the boy. The tree loved it.
The metaphorical theme of the novel is the acceptance of one’s own love and the gift of giving. People disagree on whether the relationship is positive or negative, making it “one of the most contentious books in children’s literature.”
Despite being a children’s book, it can be read in many different ways by readers of all ages, whether they view it as satire, a message about religion, the environment, friendship, or parenting.
Book Two: Red and Me by Bill Russell
What is Red and Me about?
Basketball great Bill Russell, who played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 until 1969, wrote Red and Me. He coached the Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, and Boston Celtics after retiring from playing. Bill Russell received numerous NBA accolades, much like Kevin Durant.
In his book, Red and Me, he pays homage to his longtime coach and mentor, Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach. He recounts the history of this enduring friendship that contributed to the development of one of the greatest basketball dynasties ever.
Bill Russell didn’t believe he would pick up much from his coach when the Boston Celtics acquired him in 1957 because all of his prior coaches had been white and had not done much to assist him.
Not Red Auerbach, though. He experimented, listened to his players, and assembled a team solely on the basis of performance.
In 13 years, Bill Russell and Red Auerbach together won 11 NBA championships. Together, they overcame prejudice both on and off the court, built a legendary team chemistry, and forged an enduring bond.
Book Three: Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks For a Better Life by John Wooden and Jay Carty
What is Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success about?
Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success may sound like a multi-level marketing system, but it’s actually about Jay Carty and the success strategy of John Wooden, a great collegiate basketball coach.
The book is divided into 32 daily readings, each of which focuses on a different building block of this success pyramid. Each block is a fundamental idea that, in their words, “contributes to lifetime achievement in every area of life.”
People who are normally too busy to read will benefit from being divided into smaller daily readings and won’t be able to take advantage of any of the success strategies.
Everybody should have the opportunity to read the book, according to John Wooden and Jay Carty.
Kevin Durant: Book Recommendation List
Even though Kevin Durant reads every day, these are his favorite novels of all the ones he has read.
Here is the list of Kevin Durant’s book recommendations with links for each to Amazon.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Red and Me by Bill Russell
Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks For a Better Life by John Wooden and Jay Carty
Originally published at Ninth Books
