Kevin Durant Opens Up on Self-Care, Legacy, and Life in the Trenches
Kevin Durant has never been one to follow the script. Whether he's torching defenses with his smooth jumper or speaking candidly off the court, KD moves to the beat of his own drum. And this week, the Houston Rockets All-Star is making headlines-not for his play on the court, but for his unfiltered take on self-care, hygiene, and how his mindset has evolved through the grind of an NBA career.
In a recent conversation alongside Rockets teammate Fred VanVleet, Durant peeled back the curtain on his personal habits, revealing a surprisingly laid-back approach to grooming and daily routines. The two veterans touched on how they unwind during the long, repetitive NBA season, and Durant didn’t hold back.
“For what? Why get cuts?
Why lotion?” Durant said with a shrug.
“I don't lotion my body like that. I might lotion my hands if they're a little dry.”
It’s not that Durant is anti-hygiene-he’s just not stressing over the usual routines. He explained that unless there’s a reason, like a barber already coming through for his friends, he’s not rushing to get a haircut.
Same goes for showers: “I shower, but I might go two days, sometimes, without hopping in that water. Wait until I get to the gym.”
That might raise some eyebrows, but for Durant, it’s all about comfort and keeping it real. He’s not trying to impress anyone-he’s trying to stay grounded.
“If I'm sitting in the house, and ain't got practice, I might just wanna go musty for a couple of days,” he said. “I just like to feel close to the trenches like that. I just say f*** it.”
It’s a rare level of honesty from a superstar who’s always marched to his own rhythm. But beneath the surface of these comments is a deeper look at where Durant is mentally. The 35-year-old isn’t chasing approval-he’s chasing peace, purpose, and, yes, another championship.
Durant and the Rockets are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Pelicans, their second straight defeat. But the bigger picture is still very much in focus.
Durant, now in his first season with Houston, is eyeing a third NBA title to add to his already Hall-of-Fame résumé. And while he acknowledges the greatness of legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, he’s not interested in comparisons.
“I feel like I’ve mastered the game and that should be the only goal for every player,” Durant said. “I don’t give a f*** about Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, what they’ve done in comparison to me.
The standard that they set, I want to reach that. As far as longevity, relevance, impact on the game, impact on the city.
Championships, I want that too.”
That shift in perspective-focusing on self-mastery rather than legacy debates-took root after his first title run with the Warriors.
“When we won the first one, and I realized none of that s*** mattered. Like, why am I comparing myself to another man?
I should be playing against myself,” Durant said. “In my life in general, I’m not comparing myself to no human being in anything that I do.”
It’s vintage Durant: introspective, unapologetically honest, and laser-focused on what matters most to him. He’s not interested in fitting into anyone else’s mold-not on the court, not in the locker room, and definitely not in the mirror.
As the Rockets prepare for their next test against the Nuggets, Durant’s mindset is clear. He’s still chasing greatness-but on his own terms.