Kevin Durant Reading Comprehension
Name_______________________
Kevin Durant is a prominent NBA All-Star player. He was born on September 29,
1988, just outside of Washington D.C. He was one of four children, and grew up loving
sports along with his sister and two brothers. One of his brothers, Anthony, was also a
basketball player. Durant’s grandmother, Barbara, always praised Durant for his
height, saying it was a blessing, even though Durant was teased for it by his
classmates. Barbara was right: Durant’s height would eventually give him an
advantage in his future career.
Durant began playing basketball with a team in Maryland as part of the Amateur
Athletic Union called the PG Jaguars. The team clinched two national championships
while Durant was a part of it. In high school, he grew seven inches to a height of 6
feet, 9 inches. After Durant’s senior year, he was named to USA Today’s First Team
All-American List, putting him in a good position to be recruited for colleges to play
basketball. Durant ended up committing to the University of Texas, but only played
there for a year before being chosen in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle
Supersonics.
While playing for the Supersonics, Durant received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
The team eventually relocated to Oklahoma City and renamed themselves the
Thunder, with Durant serving as the face of the rebranded team. In 2012, Durant
worked with point guard Russell Westbrook and James Harden to take the Thunder to
the NBA finals. He was chosen as part of the United States basketball team for the
2012 Olympic Games in London, and brought back gold. He was voted MVP in 2014,
and took home gold with the American team again at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
In July 2016, Durant announced a controversial decision: he was signing with the
Golden State Warriors. This decision was controversial because the Warriors were
already considered a strong team, but Durant helped lead them to victory in the 2017
NBA finals against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 35.2
points and 8.4 rebounds. On making the decision to switch to the Warriors, Durant
said, “…I am …at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an
opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to
a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and
personal growth."
Durant continues to play and in summer 2019, agreed to a four-year deal playing with
the Brooklyn Nets.
1. Which of the following statements about Durant’s height is true?
a. He was ridiculed about it, but it eventually ended up helping him.
b. His grandmother wished that he was shorter, but she eventually came around.
c. His classmates were envious of his height, and it furthered his career.
d. He was the shortest of his classmates, but he eventually had a growth spurt.
2. A basketball player scores 20, 25, and 28 points over three games. What is the
player’s point average?
a. 22.1
b. 24.3
c. 26.5
d. 28.2
3. Which statement about Durant is supported by the passage?
a. He had a successful high school basketball career.
b. He completed four years of college.
c. Both of the above
d. None of the above
4. Which is not one of Durant’s accomplishments?
a. Being on the 2012 Olympic team
b. Winning MVP in 2013
c. Taking home gold in Rio in 2016
d. Helping the Warriors win the 2017 NBA finals
5. Read Durant’s quote describing his switch to the Warriors. What is the main idea
of this quote?
a. Never give up on your dreams.
b. Don’t be afraid to keep challenging yourself.
c. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
d. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
6. Three words in the second paragraph contain the same prefix: relocated,
renamed, and rebranded. Considering this sentence in context, which is the best
meaning for the prefix “re-“?
a. Against
b. Over
c. For
d. Again
7. Which statement about Durant is supported by the passage?
a. He continues to play for the Warriors.
b. He never played in the Olympics.
c. He played for at least two different teams.
d. He retired from basketball in 2019.
Answers
1. A
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. B
6. D
7. C
