Kevin Durant has had memorable moments in Toronto. Here are five moments that connect him to the Raptors

In many different ways, Kevin Durant has been linked to the Raptors for nearly a decade. With Toronto reportedly still among serious contenders for the 12-time NBA All-Star, who has requested a trade from Brooklyn, we look at five moments that connect the Raptors franchise to Durant:

A long time affair

In 2013, long before the Raptors began their ascent to the 2019 NBA championship, Durant mentioned his infatuation with the franchise.

“Believe it or not, I wanted to play for the Toronto Raptors. That was my favorite team,” he told the Dan Patrick Show.

The reason? Vincent Carter.

“He showed his enthusiasm, just his athleticism, and how he took Toronto from being one of the newest teams in the league to almost making it to the Finals. He changed the culture there in Toronto.”

a bright night

Durant put on one of the best individual performances in history at what was then known as the Air Canada Center in May 2014.

As a member of the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in a season that would end with him winning the NBA MVP award, Durant hit a deep 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the second buzzer of overtime in OKC’s 119-118 victory.

The shot gave Durant 51 points to go with 12 rebounds and seven assists. He played 53 of the game’s 58 minutes and said after that it was “the craziest game” he had ever been a part of and he “had to get out of there.”

an expensive cry

Durant appeared at the 2014 OVO Fest concert and Drake, recently named but unpaid “global ambassador,” waved during his set.

“My brother Kevin Durant was kind enough to come to the show tonight and see us,” Drake said as concertgoers sang “KD.” “I just want him to see what would happen if he came to play in Toronto.”

However, expensive moment. The Raptors were subsequently fined $25,000 (US) for improperly recruiting a player under contract to another team.

A battle for the ages

Seeing two of the best players in the league square off in November 2018 gave Raptors fans a sneak peek of things to come during the season.

Durant had his second 51-point game against the Raptors and was brilliant, but Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard outclassed him, scoring 37 points as the Raptors recorded a grueling 131-128 victory in overtime.

“What a game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “An amazing basketball game for the fans to watch.”

a bittersweet night

After missing the first four games of the 2019 NBA Finals while recovering from injury, Durant returned for Game 5 with the Golden State Warriors at the Air Canada Center against the Raptors.

With his team trailing 3-1, Durant’s comeback was spectacular early on. He scored 11 points, including three triples, in the first quarter alone. But disaster struck in the second quarter when Durant suffered a torn Achilles tendon that would sideline him for the entire 2019-20 season.

It was a moment mired in controversy as some Raptors fans cheered, originally thinking Toronto’s Serge Ibaka had stolen the ball from Durant to ignite a break, not realizing the extent of Durant’s injury.

And while the Warriors would go on to win Game 5, the “what if” scenario of Durant being healthy by Game 6 will forever remain unanswered.

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