Kevin Durant is a seven-foot scoring machine. He is also, apparently, a guy who absolutely loves a good water slide. Honestly, that shouldn't be surprising. After winning a fourth Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 games, Durant took a well-deserved victory lap in Saint-Tropez. But it wasn't the luxury yacht or the expensive wine that broke the internet. It was a single, grainy paparazzi photo of Kevin Durant on slide—specifically, a massive inflatable water slide attached to a yacht.
He looked like a giant kid. Hands up. Face frozen in a mix of pure focus and slight "oh crap" energy. It was beautiful.
Why the Internet Obsessed Over Kevin Durant on Slide
People love seeing superstars act like normal humans. Usually, we see KD as this surgical mid-range assassin with a "Slim Reaper" persona. Then, boom. You see him hurtling toward the Mediterranean Sea with his long limbs flailing slightly. The photo, captured by French tabloid Deuxmoi and later blasted across X (formerly Twitter), immediately became the summer's best meme.
One user joked that he looked like a "paperclip being dropped into a bowl of water." Another noted that his facial expression was the exact same one he uses when he's about to pull up for a transition three. It’s that relatability that keeps Durant in the headlines even when he’s not playing. He doesn't try to be "cool" in the traditional sense. He just does whatever he wants. If that means hitting a water slide with Devin Booker while the rest of the world debates his legacy, so be it.
The Contrast of the Slim Reaper
Seeing a man with a nearly 7'5" wingspan navigate a plastic slide is objectively funny. Physics just feels different for him. Most people look at Durant and see a basketball deity. When you see Kevin Durant on slide, you see a 35-year-old dude just trying to enjoy his August.
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It's actually a pretty stark contrast to his on-court movement. In a game, he is all fluid motion and precise footwork. On a slide? He's at the mercy of gravity just like the rest of us.
The Other Side: Kevin Durant and the "Slide" in Training
Look, the meme is great. But "sliding" actually has a more serious connection to Durant’s career. If you’ve followed his recovery from that devastating 2019 Achilles rupture, you know about the slide board. This isn't the fun kind you find on a yacht in France.
Basketball trainers like Alan Stein and others who have worked with KD often utilize lateral slide boards to build hip stability. For a player who relies on a devastating "cross-slide" move—where he stabs his foot and forces a defender to slide their feet—lateral power is everything.
The Lateral Shuffle and Defensive Principles
In the world of basketball mechanics, the "defensive slide" is a fundamental skill. Most coaches teach a "step-and-slide" method. KD’s version is a bit different because of his height. Experts often point out that his uniqueness in biomechanics allows him to cover ground that shorter guards simply can’t.
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- He initiates shuffles with a massive push from his top leg.
- His hip rotation is incredibly external for a man his size.
- He uses a "slide-to-sprint" transition that usually leaves defenders in the dust.
When we talk about Kevin Durant on slide moves in a basketball context, we’re talking about his ability to manipulate a defender's center of gravity. He’ll give you a hard "In-and-Out" dribble, wait for your feet to slide just a few inches too far to the left, and then he’s gone. It’s a game of millimeters.
Slips, Slides, and Ankle Scares
Not every slide is a vacation or a highlight. Suns fans probably remember the collective heart attack the city had in March 2023. During a routine pregame warmup—literally just jogging—Durant slipped on a damp spot on the floor.
It was a freak accident. One second he was going up for a layup, the next his left ankle rolled as he slid across the hardwood. He missed several weeks. It was a reminder of how fragile the "on-court" slide can be.
Since then, the Suns' training staff has been notoriously meticulous about floor conditions. You'll often see ball boys frantically wiping the floor during timeouts near where KD operates. When you have a player of that caliber, every "slide" that isn't intentional is a potential disaster.
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The Relatability of the "KD Persona"
What makes the Kevin Durant on slide meme stick is that it fits his "online" personality perfectly. He’s the guy who will tell a random person on Reddit that he "slides in DMs" and "plays Xbox" just like anyone else. He famously told a commenter back in 2017 that he’s "closer to you than u think."
He doesn't curate a perfect image. If he’s on a yacht and wants to go down a slide, he does it. If he wants to argue with a teenager about defensive rotations at 3:00 AM on a Tuesday, he does that too.
What We Get Wrong About Him
Many people think Durant is "unhappy" because he doesn't всегда smile on the court. The Dan Le Batard Show even did a segment wondering why he didn't look "happier" in the slide photos. But honestly? That’s just KD. He’s a "hooper." He’s a guy who finds joy in the work and the occasional Saint-Tropez vacation, even if his "fun face" looks like his "game face."
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Athletes
If you're looking at the Kevin Durant on slide moment and wondering what to actually take from it, here are a few thoughts:
- Don't over-sanitize your life. Durant’s brand is built on being himself, even when it looks goofy. In an age of "perfect" Instagram feeds, authenticity (even in a water slide photo) wins.
- Focus on lateral stability. If you’re a basketball player, the "slide" is your best friend and worst enemy. Use a slide board or lateral lunges to protect your ankles and knees. KD’s longevity after an Achilles tear is largely due to this type of focused stability work.
- Appreciate the human side. Superstars are just people who happen to be world-class at one specific thing. They still get wedgies on water slides.
The next time you see KD pulling up for a jumper, remember the image of him with his hands in the air, sliding into the ocean. It makes the greatness feel a little more attainable. It reminds us that even the Slim Reaper needs a vacation.
To stay updated on Durant’s current season performance or to see the latest training clips from the Phoenix Suns, you should follow the official NBA film study channels or check out the latest "Boardroom" features where KD discusses his business ventures and off-court life.