File this tidbit in the oddball file, but Kevin Durant told Wall Street Journal reporter Chris Herring he manipulates his height based on the context and audience.
Kevin Durant will be however tall he wants to be. (via @WSJSports) pic.twitter.com/8Jp1sweZT7
— ESPN (@espn) May 4, 2016
Durant is actually 6’11” even though he is listed as 6’9″ on game programs and on NBA.com. This apparently is because 6’9″ is an ideal height for an NBA small forward according to Durant and anything over that height and people in basketball circles consider you to be a power forward. That is generally true, but when you are the special specimen with the shooting, ball handling and quickness that Durant possess’ those traditional standards are thrown out the window.
As for the ladies, Durant must feel that the appeal of having a rendez-vous with a 7’0″ NBA player far exceeds the appeal of a mere 6’11” one. He is an NBA superstar and highly marketed athlete, so I doubt he would need the extra inch to really help his chances with the ladies.
This whole discussion is silly but it is always entertaining to hear how NBA players may fib about their height in order to elevate their value on and off the court apparently.
As a basketball player growing up, fibbing about your height comes with the territory on game programs as a tool of intimidation or for college recruitment purposes. 5’10” guys are 6’0″, 6’4″ guys are 6’6″, etc. It is rare to find the player like Durant who prefers to lie about his height the other way like Kevin Garnett who is over 7’0″ and refers to himself as 6’11” to not be considered a center.
Any way you slice it, Durant is a very gifted and unique athlete for his size whatever height he prefers to be viewed and as an obscenely rich professional athlete I’m sure he doesn’t struggle with the ladies.
