"I was always getting yelled at" - Kevin Durant on how P. J. Carlesimo held him accountable

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No matter how talented a young individual is, a capable mentor can help them reach new heights. This is a sentiment that NBA superstar Kevin Durant would likely agree with, especially given the early stages of his career.

At just 18, the former second-overall draft pick joined the Seattle SuperSonics and was swiftly mentored by then-head coach P.J. Carlesimo. Though at times challenging, this guidance proved invaluable for KD.

“I was spacing out a lot in practices and shootarounds, and I was always getting yelled at. So he definitely taught me that every time you step on that court it’s important in order for you to win basketball games. That’s something that’s going to stick with me forever,” Durant reflected, per The Oklahoman.

Carlesimo asked a friend about KD

In 2002, Carlesimo joined the Spurs as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich. There, he crossed paths with a young Sam Presti, who became the SuperSonics GM in June 2007.

One of Presti’s initial moves was to bring along Carlesimo as the team’s head coach and disband the Ray Allen-Rashard Lewis duo. This pivoted the focus to the future, centered around the young Durant.

The skilled 6’11” forward had been picked just one spot behind Greg Oden in the 2007 NBA Draft. Intrigued by this promising newcomer, P.J. reached out to his friend Rick Barnes, who had coached KD at the University of Texas.

“Anything you heard, double it,” Barnes told Carlesimo. “He’s better than anybody says he is. And you’re not going to believe what a great kid he is and how easy he is to coach.”

A lasting bond

The then-SuperSonics head coach formed his own opinion of KD during their first NBA season together. Carlesimo was surely impressed, with ‘The Slim Reaper’ winning the Rookie of The Year award after averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

“If you watched him practice for like five minutes, if you had half a brain you knew then there was absolutely no limit to how good he could be,” Carlesimo noted.

At the time, P.J. probably wished to fast-forward to KD’s physical prime, feeling the player needed to add more weight and muscle. Yet, in retrospect, he, like many, was mistaken.

“He hasn’t put on as much weight as I would have thought maybe he needed to. But it doesn’t matter,” the now 74-year-old observed.

It certainly didn’t matter, as KD has been unstoppable on offense for years, thanks to his high release, smooth jumper, and scoring prowess across all three levels. The current Suns forward boasts four scoring titles, two 50-40-90 club entries, and the 2014 MVP award.

Many of those accolades might not have been possible without Carlesimo’s guidance, who was released by the relocated franchise (the OKC Thunder) in early November 2008. This gratitude was palpable when an evidently emotional Durant years later reconnected with his former coach.

“I love him,” KD said afterwards. “It’s always great to see him and his family. He’s always going to be a part of my journey, and I’m going to be a part of his.”