Texas Fan Or Not. . . What We Learned From Durant Applies To Us All

by Peter Bean on Apr 11, 2007 1:23 AM CDT in Basketball Comment 15 comments

I've noted several times over that I'm not a writer who spends much of his time chatting with sources, getting inside scoops on everything that happens in Texas athletics. Yet, as I noted on Monday when I filed my story on what I'd learned about the Durant Decision, I did dig deep in this case because I felt so personally invested in the outcome. I really wanted one more year of Kevin Durant, as we all did.

Though I don't normally spend time digging up inside notes that shed light on why this or that happened - in this instance I wanted to. And what I learned is critical to understanding why Kevin decided to turn pro and perhaps telling as to what we should expect in this new era in which every 18 year old prospect has to spend a year in college.

In the case of Kevin Durant, we were blessed with a player who fell in love with his college experience and decided that - all things being equal - he'd prefer to remain in college. He further decided that another year in college would be good for his growth as a person and a player, that bypassing the NBA was something he could live with, and that the business side of the NBA was substantially less appealing than the innocent camaraderie of the college experience.

I know for a fact that these things are true. . . and yet he still turned pro.

What in the hell are we supposed to take from that?

For one thing, I think it tells us that we were all a little bit naive about how this whole process works. We forget that these kids grow up dreaming to be as good as Michael Jordan in Chicago, as opposed to out-performing TJ Ford in Austin. We forget that no matter how wonderful a year on the college campus is, that amateur basketball is, always has been, and always will be, a stepping stone to the glories of the NBA.

I think in Kevin's case we were dealing with an incredibly interesting juxtaposition - the tension between his desire to relive this amazing first year in college basketball and the desire to reward his parents for putting him in position to be the person (and player) he is today. He chose the latter, at the expense of the former, and I think that we'd all (Texas fans or not) be wise to take notice of the implications of KD's decison: After all, this may very well be as close as we're going to come to having a top five NBA talent deciding to stay for a sophomore season. Kevin Durant wanted to. He wanted to badly.

And he still couldn't do it.

It makes me believe that Greg Oden will declare. It makes me believe that, once eligible, virtually all top five NBA picks will forgo college for the NBA. It makes me think that I need to appreciate exactly how strong the pressure is on these kids to make it to the league, sign while their value is peaked, and shun (however difficult it may be) another go-round in the delightful collegiate merry-go-round.

As sad as I am to see Kevin go, the rational analyst in me believes he did the right thing.

Put yourself in Kevin's shoes for a moment. As easy as it is to say that staying another year at Texas has its (legitimate) benefits, Kevin's decision more or less confirms that even those of us with the best intentions have little chance of successfully "staying amateur." Despite everything that KD felt about returning to Texas for one more year, the decision wound up being no decision at all. You just don't say 'No' to a situation that good. Certainly not when the people you care about more than anyone else in the world - your parents - have the most to gain by you setting aside another year of "what you want to do."

In short: the fact that Kevin Durant, who wanted more than (almost) anything to stay at Texas, decided to turn pro tells us that all us collegiate sports fans need to be realistic about what's actually at stake in these matters. It's bigger than our university. It's bigger than us fans. And in many cases, it's even bigger than that which the athlete in question wants to do.

Kevin Durant is 19 years old, with a limitless future in front of him. As badly as he wanted to ride with us for one more year, he did what almost any rational agent in his position would do. . .

The smart thing - he went pro.

There's no one on the planet more disappointed in his decision than I am, but I'll be damned if I won't be one of the most supportive, too.

Let's face it, boys and girls. This has nothing to do with you, me, or UT.

It's bigger than all that. Wish Kevin all the best in his future. Believe me, if there's one thing I confirmed this weekend, it's that he deserves it.

--PB--

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If it had been my son

I would have told him he has maximized his position in the NBA draft and it is time to live your dream.

We all wanted Vince to stay 1 more year, but we all new he had maxed out, could not have positioned himself better for his future. Sure it hurt, a possible repeat MNC at hand, but we were all very proud of what VY did for us, "The" University, and himself.

Good luck KD, I wish San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas could move up to pick you, but I also like the fact you could be wearing Celtic Green.

"Nobody leaves this field until we beat the hell out of them".................... L.J."Louis"Jordan in 1913 before kickoff of the Texas/ou game.

by ouALWAYSsux on Apr 11, 2007 7:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well said

My four years at UT were the four best years of my life, and were I in Kevin's place, I would have made the exact same decision.

Life's not perfect; you have to make tough choices, and I know that KD put a lot of thought into this one before doing what he thought was best. If anything, should we not respect the man even more for putting the security of his family ahead of his own immediate desires? Because that's what he did. That indicates someone who is mature enough to handle the pressures of being a professional.

So, I'm not upset at the decision. I'll cheer for KD the rest of his career, because he's a Longhorn and a good guy.

Hook 'Em.

by Meekrob on Apr 11, 2007 8:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

KD said it himself

He will always be a longhorn.
It was a privilege to watch him wear the orange and white.
Now we get to see him become a superstar in the NBA.
He had done everything he could as an individual at Texas and now he should move on.
It was great KD! Good Luck

by blazzinken on Apr 11, 2007 8:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

I could not have put it better. I think the best we could say about Kevin's decision making was that he, at best, toyed with the idea of staying. It never was realistically an option. Coming back next year was not going to happen. Good luck Kevin.

by UTeed on Apr 11, 2007 9:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good Luck KD

What a difficult decision for a teenager to have to make... and you never know what the future may bring. It is somewhat gratifying that he at least considered staying, and shunning all those millions.

It's like I always say: Basketball doesn't build character. It eliminates the weak ones.

by SelimSivad on Apr 11, 2007 9:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How about Tim Duncan?

So how do you explain Tim Duncan's decision to complete all four years of his college eligibility?

by Caradoc on Apr 11, 2007 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

$

$40-$50,000,000.00 from Nike.

by UTeed on Apr 11, 2007 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: Tim Duncan

I think the closest you can come to explaining Tim Duncan is that his situation was different. Mainly in that it was not at that time a 'normal' practice for the NBA to draft high school players.

TD came along looooooong before the whole LeBron James Experience. So he probably never really seriously considered going pro until his junior year. And I think Tim Duncan as a college junior was far more mature than Kevin as a college freshman (which by the way, is absolutely no knock on Kevin Durant... I think any valid comparison in character to Tim Duncan is a great compliment to the young man). I suspect that a lot of the Durants' decision was highly pressurized by a climate which insists it's a now-or-never thing. Not that they believe that intellectually, but let's face it, emotionally everything in the world is telling you that... Well, Tim was just far enough along that he could see past that pressure. Tim was (and is) a remarkable man. I suspect there are very, very few of us who could make the decision he made. The fear factor of a wrong decision drives us way too much. I think Tim just had an enormous amount of, I don't know what to call it, maybe: emotional courage.

There was also far less pressure on Tim Duncan than on Kevin Durant. The shoe deals were a given, but not at the amounts they're throwing around here. And there was not the combination of the fear based on the very fresh memory of Livingston, and the idea that turning pro at that age was the only 'natural' thing to do. He had more recent examples of players staying around. And again, he was a junior. The end of the road was just in sight. With Durant, the choice was just another year. What's the real upside? The only one I see is that he'd be more physycally prepared, another year older, a year stronger. In terms of basketball, he would be no more "NBA-ready" next year. That's not a knock on Barnes, it's just that the college game is vastly different. There's no question that he'll struggle some, but he'll improve waaaaaaay much more as a professional, even getting a lot of bench time than he would as a college sophomore, attending classes, and working on things that would help his college team succeed, which in many cases would only tangentially help him individually.

I truly wish Kevin had come back. Heck, I wish Vince had come back too. But, in both cases, I have zero bad feelings about the decisions they made. They did exactly what I would have told them to if they'd asked. And, for all we know, Kevin did exactly what Tim Duncan might do in his specific situation....

by agent orange on Apr 11, 2007 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is from his wikipedia page

so I am not sure it is accurate, but:
"Before his mother succumbed to breast cancer, Tim promised her he would complete his university degree before playing basketball professionally."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Duncan

Also, I think his family was better off financially, which makes a huge difference in this decision.

by Wells on Apr 15, 2007 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant, Peter

You couched this argument perfectly. I'm very grateful as a fan and Life Member to have seen this guy in burnt orange. He paid enormous dividends to our school and boosted our national exposure. I believe he made the right choice, and more importantly, he made it for the right reasons. I hope my kids possess the same measure of humility, class and introspection as Kevin showed.

I never will forget ol' what's-his-name.

by Horntod on Apr 11, 2007 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I see what you're saying

but there are also counter-examples. We just learned that the Carolina guys are staying another year, similar to the Florida guys last year. Matt Leinhart plays a sport that has a much higher likelihood for injury, as did Ricky Williams, and each stayed another year. I just don't think it is as pre-determined as you make it out to be.

America is clearly the most economic of societies (along with Japan), meaning that we have decided to allow economics to organize our problems more-so than, say, religion or politics or education. Which I'm fine with, because it works, and countries with strong economic philosophies tend to be safer and exhibit higher standards of living.

But to say that KD simply HAD to go pro, as if it were a foregone conclusion is a uniquely American idea. Because there are many cultures that use economics as a basis for a more organized and democratic society but also balance it out with other priorities as well. In this culture, however, economics is quickly becoming the one and only priority.

There are still plenty of people left who would choose certain experiences and lifestyle over money (although, in this case he could actually have both), its just not commonly endorsed in our culture anymore. You are thought an idiot if you choose otherwise.

I have no problem with Kevin leaving, he did what he wanted, as would any of us. I just don't think it is as absolute as you are making it out; he did have a choice.

by BrooklynHorn on Apr 11, 2007 12:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I appreciate what you're saying

But I did qualify my statement by limiting the universe to "top five in the draft" type players. Nor do I mean it to be absolute; only highly probable. And, in my view, completely justifiable. Perhaps smart, even.

I'd point out, too, that it's also more than money. It's the NBA. It's the pinnacle of achievement, in the one thing these kids have dreamed of since they could dribble a ball.

There will be exceptions to the rule, but I'm predicting that it will be overwhelmingly one-sided. The decision isn't QUITE a no-decision-at-all, but it's close.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Apr 11, 2007 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd also like to infuse

a bit of optimism into this. I think a lot of fans' reactions might be analogous to that of a girl who has just been dumped by her boyfriend: "I'll never find anybody, nobody will love me ever again, never never never!" and so forth.

Texas has attracted and retained great players in the past, and will continue to do so for some time. This was one guy's decision.

by BrooklynHorn on Apr 11, 2007 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs