Dream sequence with Durant

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It was like a scene out of a dream. I was on the same basketball court as Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant but on a different team. I wore the teal-and-yellow version of Nike’s newly-launched KD VI shoe. So did Durant whose latest signature shoe is expected to take the market by storm.

I couldn’t believe it was Durant playing a five-on-five, full-court, pick-up style game for five minutes. I pinched myself on the arm. I didn’t wake up from sleep. This was for real. And this was how it happened.

Broadcaster Mico Halili and I were chosen to represent the Philippines in Nike’s two-day Durant experience in this city. A Nike source said there were 78 media reps from 10 countries invited to the tour. The countries were China, Hong Kong, Japan, Turkey, Greece, UK, France, Spain, US and the Philippines. Of the 78, 28 were from Asia. None of the visitors knew what was in store in the program except that the highlight was the launch of Durant’s sixth signature shoe, the low-cut, lightweight KD VI.

We were billeted at the Hotel George, a block away from Union Station in downtown D. C. On Day 1, we were brought in two buses to the Seat Pleasant, Maryland, Activity Center where Durant learned to play the game. Durant was born and raised in Seat Pleasant, a town with a population of about 4,500. We entered the gym where broadcaster and former columnist Mike Wilbon hosted a sit-down discussion with Durant, Nike shoe designer Leo Chang and Durant’s mother Wanda Pratt. The shoe was officially introduced to media. Durant’s emergence from Seat Pleasant to become a high-profile basketball star was detailed in storybook fashion by Wilbon. Nike produced audio-visuals to complement the launch.

Then, we were taken by bus to the two-storey wooden home of Durant’s grandmother Barbara Davis. Durant’s older brother Tony joined us in our short bus ride. We gathered in front of the house porch where Durant’s mother broke down and cried. “We had a lot of good times in this house,” sobbed Wanda. “I’m just so grateful.” Durant said, “I never thought I would have this many people on the porch of my grandma’s house just because I could play basketball a little bit.” Then, Durant himself rode in our bus as we drove by the outdoor cement courts of Fairmount Heights where he played as a boy.

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Next stop was the dreaded “Hill,” a steeply inclined street where Durant ran up and down to build his stamina and leg strength as a teener. Durant demonstrated to media how he would sprint up the slope and run backward on the way down. His elementary and high school coach Taras Brown, who ordered the running drills, related how he used to crack the whip and how Durant never complained, showing a deep sense of discipline in sometimes even assaulting the “Hill” before dawn. “I know when I have a son and he wants to play basketball, this is the first place I’m gonna send him,” said Durant. “I’m going to sit in my car and read a book and make him do 25 extra like I did. I’m looking forward to that day.” That was exactly what Wanda used to do when Durant ran up and down the “Hill.”

We returned to the Activity Center where we were treated to a sumptuous lunch of “soul food.” The meal consisted of either baked or fried chicken, greens, fried fish, French fries and cornbread. We were led back to the gym after lunch. Another on-stage discussion was in the program with Wilbon hosting Durant, WNBA player Kara Lawson, soccer star Oguchi Onyewu, Chang and Wanda, this time on the topic of mentoring. In the audience were 140 summer basketball campers within the age range of 6 to 17 assembled by Sherri Kittrell, Activity Center facility director. Lawson and Oguchi are from the Metro D. C. area where other stars like Sugar Ray Leonard, Adrian Dantley and Elgin Baylor were born.

Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant popped up on stage after the discussion to present Durant the key to the city. Grant spoke like he was in a political rally and called Durant the city’s favorite son. With the ceremonies over, the media reps took turns interviewing Durant, Chang, Lawson, Oguchi and Durant’s mother and grandmother. Oguchi was sought out by the European media because of the soccer connection. Oguchi used to play in France and Belgium and now boots for Malaga in the Spanish league.

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Durant received the media in a private room named in his honor at the Activity Center. Kittrell, who took over as center director three years ago, said Durant has so far donated $75,000 to the building which was established in 1979. Durant also provided sports equipment for kids. Kittrell said the center was awarded an $800,000 grant from the Department of Parks and Recreation to upgrade its facilities. Durant started playing at the center when he was eight years old.

The one-on-one interview with Durant came off smoothly. Durant never ducked a question and answered with sincerity. He spoke about his visit to Manila two years ago, the greatest achievement in his career so far which was getting drafted into the NBA because it changed his life and how despite being a three-time NBA scoring champion, he relies on his teammates to push the Thunder forward. Durant patiently fielded the questions from sports and lifestyle media – bloggers, TV broadcasters, print journalists and radio commentators. He never showed any sign of wanting to get it over with.

To cap the Day 1 program, Nike took us to a sports bar for dinner in downtown D. C.  Across the sports bar was the arena where the Washington Wizards and Mystics play. During dinner, we watched the proceedings of the NBA draft where the Wizards picked Otto Porter of Georgetown on the first round. Tomorrow, we’ll go through the Day 2 program leading to the dream sequence with Durant.