No exceptions. Not even for brothers.
During the first day of their AAU basketball for the PG Jaguars, the Kevin and Tony Durant guarded each other closely, both trying to catch the eye of their new head coach.
The physical play between the brothers led to a shove, then another, then a punch, then a wrestling match on the hardwood floor on the Eleanor Roosevelt High School gymnasium.
However, after being separated, the brothers embraced, shared a hug, and went right back to the physical style of play that started the fight in the first place.
“It was always a competition between us two. We have always tried to get each other better, but have fun while we get each other better,” former Towson basketball forward Tony Durant said. “Brothers fight, and brothers bicker, but it only made us stronger and gave us a stronger bond and stronger relationship through the competition of playing basketball.”
The Durant brothers constant pushing of each other comes from a common dream they shared growing up in Bowie, Maryland. The dream of becoming basketball stars has only strengthened their relationship, although the bond between these two brothers extended well beyond the blacktop. Tony views Kevin as an equal on the hardwood, but plays guardian angel off of it.
“I always had a fascination with basketball because me and my brothers used to always watch it on TV or saw guys outside playing it, Tony Durant said. “It just was a natural infatuation.”
When her sons began showing interest in the sport, Wanda Pratt, the mother of the Tony and Kevin, signed the boys up for recreation membership cards at the Prince George's County Boy's and Girl's Club at Seat Pleasant rec center.
Ms. Wanda's had two goals for her sons in life; making sure they reach their full potential, and to keep sons out of the streets. Seat Pleasant is a tough place to grow up, and Ms. Wanda wanted her sons in a safe environment, especially after an incident that happened when Tony was 10 years old. Local basketball star Henry White was a neighborhood legend on the court. White, who was 17 years old at the time, was admired greatly by Tony, his friends, and the entire community. Until one summer afternoon, White was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting. The slaying of his friend and hero kept Tony and his brother out of the street and in the gym.
“That really sparked a lot of interest in our minds as to what basketball can do for us and what the streets can do to us,” Tony said. “We really wanted to stay out of the streets and stay alive so we really chose basketball over everything.”
“The kids around our way always wanted to go to parties and stuff like that. I used to go from time to time, but my mother used to always tell me that partying all the time isn’t going help you grow up and help you become a young man," Tony added. “Figure out what you want to do early and try to perfect yourself. I tried to stay out of trouble and stayed occupied and focused.”
Soon enough, the Seat Pleasant recreation center was occupied everyday by Tony and Kevin. The two of them walked from their bus stop everyday after school, and spent their entire day their on the weekends. Even though the gym had creaky floorboards that were uneven and had dead spots that changed the trajectory of your dribbling. The gym reached sweltering temperatures in the summer and leaked water from the roof when if even drizzled. The gym always had a shortage of basketballs, but never a shortage of people, as it was overly crowded with kids every weekend. Even so, the gym became a second home for the Durant brothers.
“The gym was always hot. During the summer is when we had the most fun. We had nothing to do but play basketball in the gym with each other just messing around and playing around,” Tony said. “We were just kids but those were the best times. Even though the gym was always hot and people were always in there, but we could be kids and be ourselves.”
The more basketball consumed the lives of the Durant brothers, the more focused they developed into the best basketball players they could be. The game that started out as just recreational fun eventually became their passion and obsession. The two continued to grow as athletes, helping each with encouragement from their mother.
“My mother was always telling me and my brother that we needed to do what we wanted to do, and do what it takes to do what we want to do. I learned that from her,” Tony said. She instilled in me and my brother hard work and giving 100 % in everything you do whether it is basketball, or working on a job. Always give your best because you never know if that's the last chance you’ll get to do it.”
After enrolling at Suitland High School for one year, Tony felt almost stagnant. He felt like the progression in his basketball skills had become stale and knew surroundings at Suitland wouldn't foster his desire to become an outstanding athlete and could lead him down the path he and his brother desperately tried to avoid. With Kevin accepting a full scholarship to basketball powerhouse National Christian Academy, Tony knew it was time for him to move on. Tony enrolled at St. John's Military Academy in Saliena, Kansas. Tony felt that the institute would help hone his basketball ability as well as give his life discipline and structure.
“My mother instilled in me the attitude of being independent. I wanted to get away from home and to change some scenery,” Tony said. “I was definitely trying to build myself up through my talents, but I was also trying to build myself up in a perception to myself. I wanted to become successful.”
Tony thrived at St. John's on and off the court. Tony made the honor roll constantly throughout his three years and earned the highest rank at the military academy. As a senior, he led the state of Kansas in scoring with a 26.9 average with 14.3 rebounds per game and led the Muleskinners to the 2004 league championship.
“Tony became a man when he was here to us,” St. John's head coach Roy Lawrence said. “He was a bit lost when he first came out here from Maryland, but he came into his own. He really wanted to achieve what he came out here to do, which was to make his own name.”
While in Kansas, Tony never felt the struggles of being away from his family and friends. However, it did eventually become difficult for him being away from Kevin. Not only because his brother was also his best friend, but because Tony sees himself as his brother's keeper.
“I knew my brother was going to be a pro, and I didn't want the wrong people to get around him. I always want him to be around the right people and that is something is stress to him until this day,” Tony said. “I don't want anyone to take advantage of him because it is going to hurt him and make me look bad as big brother because I let someone take advantage of him. My mother told me if you don't have anyone in this world, you’ll always have your brother.”
After high school, Tony spent two years at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. As a sophomore, Tony led the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.6 and 7.0 respectively. When Tony left Butler to finish up at a four year colleges, he found several offers from all around the country. Tony decided that he did not want to continue his career anywhere but close to the place where he first learned to play the game. Tony eventually committed to Towson.
"I wanted to be home. I wanted to show off my talent to all of my friends and family. There was no better place than Towson," Tony said. “I had offers from other schools around, but I wanted to come home and make an impact.”
“I think his family influenced has been a big part of his life. I think mom raised him in a certain manner, and that has been terrific,” Towson men's basketball assistant coach Jim Meil said. “I think he cares deeply about his family and their togetherness. Obviously family plays a big part in any child’s life, but for him, it’s been a very significant factor for him coming here.”
Tony claims that signing with Towson in 2007 and finally becoming a Division I athlete was the proudest moment on his life. That was until several weeks later when he and his closest family members gathered at the floor at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The day Kevin was drafted to the NBA, the pair of brothers finally realized a dream that they had for each other.
Instead of having a large draft party when Kevin was expected to become a top five pick in the draft, the Durant family opted to only keep a small group of people who helped Kevin reach that level. When Commission Stern walked across the stage that night to announce the Seattle Supersonics second overall pick, a small intimate group that included the three brothers, Wanda Pratt, their father Wayne, their grandmother, and Kevin's agent were the only ones at the round dinner table in from of the stage. When his named was called, Kevin arose with tears in his eyes. The first person he hugged was Tony. Half of their common dream of becoming professionals was accomplished.
“It was the best feeling of my life. I love my brother. He is my best friend. I knew from day 1 that was a dream of his and that is what he wanted to do,” Tony said. “At the end of the day, we have a shared bond and a shared goal. My mother instilled in us that no one and nothing should come between me and my brother.”
Now that Tony's career at Towson is over, he is preparing to complete the dream that they have been working towards over a decade ago. The two brothers still push each other and compete to make each other better. The brothers live together in Kevin's offseason home, training everyday for Tony's Seattle international tryout next month. Tony expects to go play basketball in Greece this upcoming fall. He will have never been this far away from his brother before, or anyone of his family for that matter. But Tony knows he will no longer be affected by the separation like it did in Kansas. He will constantly have a reminder of the close relationship he has with his brother and best friend.
“I got my brother’s keeper and my brother tattooed on my arm. I feel as when I look down at my arm during a game, that my brother is right there with me. It gives me motivation to keep going when I want to quit."
Written by Paul Williams
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