Kevin Durant is giving back to his alma mater in a big way.
The University of Texas revealed on Thursday morning that KD has donated $3 million dollars to the school, to support Texas Basketball and the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation. The donation is the largest by a former-student athlete in school history.
NEWS: #Longhorn4Life and current @Warriors star @KDTrey5 donates $3 MILLION to @UTAustin! #WhatStartsHere @UTLF @marchmadness @UT_CSLi
https://t.co/NpVCPe0570 pic.twitter.com/XV7p7bjFbt
— Texas Basketball (@TexasMBB) January 4, 2018
“My time as a Longhorn helped build the foundation for who I am today as a player and a person, and the UT team will always be my family,” said Durant in a press release. “It’s important to me to continue to give back to The University and ensure that future student-athletes have all the opportunities they need to succeed. It’s an honor to have such a close and unique relationship with Texas Basketball, and I’m grateful to be able to contribute.”
Durant’s donation has already led to facility improvements including “renovation of the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, resurfacing of both the men’s and women’s basketball practice courts, installation of graphics in the men’s practice areas, audio improvements and the creation of formal office space in Cooley Pavilion,” the practice and training facility for the men’s and woman’s basketball programs. As a thank you for his donation, the main entrance to Denton A. Cooley Pavilion will be named The Kevin Durant Texas Basketball Center and the men’s basketball facilities will be named The Kevin Durant Basketball Facility for Men.
Durant played one season at Texas in 2006-07, winning National College Player of the Year honors and taking the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“Kevin Durant has an incredibly strong and personal connection with not only our basketball program, but The University of Texas as a whole. Each time I’ve had the opportunity to visit with Kevin, I’ve been impressed with his genuine appreciation for his time, growth and development at Texas,” Texas Men’s Basketball head coach Shaka Smart said. “This gift means a great deal to our entire University, but it’s more of a reflection of how meaningful the relationships that Kevin built while at Texas remain true to this day.”
Durant is the second member of the Warriors to give a record-breaking donation to his alma mater. Draymond Green gave Michigan State $3.1 million in 2015, the largest donation in school history, to help the university build a new weight room.
