When Kevin Durant was a baby and his brother Anthony was a toddler, his father abandoned the family, leaving Wanda, who was only 21 at the time, to raise both of them alone.

Kevin Durant’s mother, Wanda Durant, is basketball’s leading performer in a critical position, and according to her son, “the real MVP.” This is despite the fact that Kevin Durant has won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award twice (in 2014 and 2017).

After their father abandoned the family when Kevin and Anthony were tiny children, their mother Wanda became a single parent at the age of 21.

The odds appeared to be stacked firmly against us. Kevin stated during his victory speech for the Most Valuable Player award in 2014, “By the time you were 21, you were a single parent with two boys.” “We had no right to be here in the first place.” You were successful in persuading us. By providing for us, you enabled us to avoid sleeping in our vehicles and eating out of cans. Despite the fact that you were not hungry, you offered food for the rest of us. You probably fell asleep on an empty stomach. You made many sacrifices for both of us. You must be the league’s player with the highest total value.

Wanda believes that the fact that she reached her goals via hard work pushed her sons to put in the effort required to succeed. “I continued to give them my love, my time, my presence, and being as engaged as I possibly could,” she told NBA.com. “As I reflected on my life, I came to the conclusion that my sons were able to realize their ambitions and follow in my footsteps because I never gave up hope and never gave up on them.”

She has been Kevin’s staunchest supporter both on and off the court, and she is now pursuing a career as a philanthropist and motivational speaker with the objective of improving people’s lives in underserved places.

So, who exactly is this Wanda Durant? Continue reading to hear more about her incredible life story, countless acts of compassion, and the vital work she is currently performing.

She gives presentations on a regular basis in order to stimulate others.One of the most significant principles of Wanda’s philosophy, according to her website, MamaDurant.com, is the belief that “where there is hope, there is possibility.” On her website, it is stated that “Her passion is to inspire underserved children, single mothers, and communities to move beyond their immediate circumstances and aim for higher heights in life.”

She has given lectures at the White House United State of Women Summit, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, and the Ford Foundation.

Her husband and she share administration responsibilities for the Durant Family Foundation.The organization’s aim is “to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic, and social programs,” and the name reflects this.

The Durants, on the other hand, believe that several of the group’s initiatives are particularly important to them. Because Kevin’s hometown of Bowie, Maryland is located in Prince George’s County, the foundation awarded the local institution with a $500,000 contribution in 2022 to update its basketball facilities.

The spot that I call “home.” We have a strong relationship to the people of PG County as well as the areas around Bowie State University. It was Maryland’s first historically black college or university (HBCU), and Kevin played basketball there, so everything came together nicely for this to happen.

Wanda is associated with several groups, including the Single Parents Support Network, Baller Moms, the Boys & Girls Club of America, and the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players, in addition to the philanthropic foundation she and her family founded. She also serves on the board of directors of Tigress Financial Partners, an organization dedicated to increasing women’s financial literacy.

Kevin’s most passionate booster and supporter, both on and off the field.Mama Durant has been outspoken about her love for her child in interviews and on television.

In an interview with Essence in 2022, she stated, “I’m Kevin’s biggest fan.” That settles it; from now on, we’ll just call him Kevin. As a professional athlete, I am aware that there will be admirers and detractors on both sides of the arena. Whatever happens, the fact that I am still his mother will not change. It doesn’t matter what other people think about it. As a person, I find him to be extremely pleasant.

Throughout Kevin’s rehabilitation from his injuries, she has served as a focal point for his cheerleaders and well-wishers.

Durant missed Game 5 of the NBA Finals due to a series of severe injuries sustained during the 2018-19 season. A calf injury and an Achilles tendon rupture were among the illnesses that prompted him to miss the game. Wanda expressed her gratitude to her global following during an appearance with Good Morning America, saying, “I’m just so grateful, and our family is grateful to the fans all over the world who have sent us their prayers, who have contacted me through my social media, and who have sent general responses.” As a result, “we are extremely grateful.”She has received accolades from the film industry.The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story, a biographical film about Wanda’s life, premiered on Lifetime in 2016. The story’s theme revolved around a family’s efforts to inspire and encourage their two sons to flourish despite the tough living conditions they were forced to endure. Pauletta Washington played the lead part in the film produced by Queen Latifah.

She has no qualms about publicly expressing her approbation of her son’s chosen job choice.Throughout his career as a basketball player, Wanda has never failed to defend Kevin when he has been chastised. According to Bleacher Report, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith stated publicly that signing with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 may have harmed Kevin’s legacy, since the team’s success on the court has been overshadowed by player Kyrie Irving’s questionable behavior. Smith’s remarks alluded to the fact that the team’s performance on the court has been overshadowed by Irving’s behavior.

Wanda responded to Smith on Twitter, saying, “When will you show up better?”Smith stated publicly in response to the criticism, “I love the NBA moms, and they all know that.” She is one of the most extraordinary people I’ve encountered in the National Basketball Association. You are free to say whatever you want to me, whether in person, on Twitter, or in any other context. Given my real feelings for you, you should expect nothing less than my best degree of deference and respect from me. As a result, what she said didn’t bother me in the least. Because she is the parent, it is absolutely legitimate for her to advocate for her child in this manner.

She is passionate about raising awareness about Graves illness and thyroid eye disease.Wanda had a difficult time getting a diagnosis of thyroid eye disease (TED), a related illness, despite having been diagnosed with Graves disease, a thyroid issue, seventeen years before.

Wanda expressed her misgivings to Ebony in the year 2022, saying, “Had I known about the risk of TED sooner, I would have been more carefully monitoring my eyes and seeing a TED Eye Specialist.” As a result, I’ve made it my life’s mission to prevent others from making the same mistake I did and allowing it to cloud their judgment for as long as it clouded mine.