Throwback: When Kevin Durant rocked the basketball world on his Rucker Park debut with 66 points

Over ten years have passed since a skinny, 22-year-old Kevin Durant entered Rucker Park in Harlem and delivered one of the finest individual displays the sport of basketball has ever witnessed.

As KD crossed the freshly painted white lines, the August night sky was a murky black, with traces of colors from the nearby skyscrapers shining into view. KD stood in front of the bright fluorescent lights wearing a vivid orange DC Power outfit as throngs of admirers drew ever closer to the court to watch him. A fully involved and enthusiastic audience was evident when a human border was established as the baseline and sideline out of bounds.

Image Credits – Yahoo

Durant went 9-for-11 from 3-point range on August 1, 2011, during the NBA lockout, electrifying a small audience near 155th St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem. He finished the game with a performance to remember by making four straight threes, all of which were made from far beyond the arc, to score 28 points in the fourth quarter.

The future Hall of Famer was surrounded by admirers of all ages after his last triple. Nearly eight million people have seen KD’s fourth-quarter scoring spree at Rucker Park on YouTube.

Kevin Durant shared a few of the insights from that day

When he received the text message “They bumpin’ at the Rucker, Slim Are You Up for a Game? ” from Randy ‘White Chocolate’ Gill, KD told GQ in 2017 that he ended up at Rucker Park. He didn’t waste any time getting on a plane from Oklahoma to New York to get ready for the DC Power. KD quickly noted that the vibes were different on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 155th Street in Harlem.

“I put on my shorts, shirt, and shoes, and when I looked up, the gate was completely crowded. People in the high-rises across the street are putting on their lights and opening their windows as they listen to the loud music that is being played. It resembled a scene from a movie.” KD told while revisiting his memories from that day.

Image Credits – YT

It’s been reported that Durant even ordered someone to go get him a dish of fried chicken, collard greens, and mac & cheese from a nearby soul food restaurant as he was taking in the sights and sounds of one of the most iconic courts in the nation.

The game then got off to a fantastic start for him as he scored 23 points in the first half and an additional 15 points in the third. In the fourth quarter, the future Hall of Famer utterly dominated the game by scoring 28 points and making five straight three-pointers over double teams.

After each flawless shot, the crowd in the park exploded in excitement, and by the time KD made his fifth three-pointer, they had gone bonkers and were pelting him with trash at half court. He even got the title “I Am The Best” for his efforts. Durant, currently plying his trade for the Brooklyn Nets, has handed in a trade request to leave the Eastern Conference side. 

 

 

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