Kevin Durant's Mom Raised Him Alone & Is His Biggest Fan – More about Wanda Durant

Wanda Durant is an exceptional and inspirational woman, and no one can attest more to that than his son, Kevin Durant. The NBA superstar thanks his mom for the unconditional love and endless sacrifices she made as a single mom raising two boys.

Wanda Durant's children have given her the amazing life she deserved, yet the mom-of-two chooses to live life as a philanthropist and inspirational speaker, helping people who were once in her place.

According to her website, Wanda is passionate about inspiring single mothers and less fortunate communities to work towards their goals and aim for greener pastures.

Wanda founded Hope, Dream, Believe, and Achieve (HDBA, LLC), a platform where she shares her own story of raising her children well despite unfavorable circumstances. She also carries out her philanthropic activities through her son, Kevin Durant's charity foundation, and other non-profit organizations.

While her current life seems nothing short of luxurious, things were not always the same for the Durant family. Wanda went through hardships one could only imagine, so much so that Lifestyle produced a film based on her life, "The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story."

Wanda Durant Is Called "The Real MVP"

Wanda was first addressed as "the real MVP" by her son Kevin when he dedicated an emotional NBA MVP acceptance speech to her that ended with a standing ovation. In tears, Kevin shared the time they moved into their first apartment with no bed or furniture. He recalled:

"We all just sat in the living room and just hugged each other cause we thought we made it."

Kevin said to his mom in the crowd, "We [weren't] supposed to be here. You made us believe. You kept us off the street. You put clothes on our backs [and] food on the table. When you didn't eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You the real MVP."

Wanda also raised Tony, whose first love was basketball. Growing up, Tony was granted a scholarship for his athletic ability, although he chose a different career path later in life.

Wanda's Lifetime movie, produced by Queen Latifah and her Flavor Unit team, will feature her story as a single mother struggling to make ends meet for her two sons, Kevin and Tony. Actress Cassandra Freeman will play Wanda, while Daniel Bellomy will play Kevin.

Wanda Durant Worked Two Jobs When Kevin Durant Was Small

Wanda and Wayne Pratt were still young when they became parents to two boys. Pratt, who was 23 years old, found himself in a situation filled with responsibilities he wasn't ready for. So around Kevin's first birthday, he made a run for it and left Wanda and the two boys.

As a single parent, Wanda knew she needed to push her limits to provide her kids with necessities for survival. She worked two jobs, including being a postal worker at night, to make ends meet.

Kevin, who was around ten years old at that time, had to stay with his grandmother while Wanda worked night shifts. It was undoubtedly a tricky setup, but she knew what she had to do to generate money for her boys to live.

Wanda also raised Tony, whose first love was basketball. Growing up, Tony was granted a scholarship for his athletic ability, although he chose a different career path later in life.

Kevin was also a basketball player in his youth and often pushed himself to his limits. At one point, he wanted to quit and sought his mom's approval. Wanda allowed him to quit on one condition – Kevin had to have another activity outside school and home.

When Kevin had to choose between sports and piano, he decided to train for basketball, carving his path to becoming a professional star athlete.

Kevin Durant's Mom Defends Her Son against ESPN's Stephen A. Smith

Although her kids are grown up, Wanda naturally protects her boys. Previously, Wanda came to Kevin's defense after ESPN's panelist, Stephen A. Smith, called him "arrogant."

In 2019, the star athlete pledged an annual donation of $10 million for ten years to Prince George's County's "College Track" program.

According to Smith, Kevin became more arrogant and disrespectful through the years. He also claimed that Kevin hasn't become wiser because of how he treats fans, referring to the time he told them not to watch him if they did not like what he was doing.

The mother-of-two found the term harsh and pointed out similarities between Smith and Kevin that brought them to success. However, she noted that Smith never called himself weak for doing the same as Kevin. Smith later went on-air and apologized to Wanda for his harsh words.

Kevin Durant has achieved fame and success after working tirelessly for many years. Despite his fortune, he never forgot to look back at where he came from and help others like him.

In 2019, the star athlete pledged an annual donation of $10 million for ten years to Prince George's County's "College Track" program. The initiative helps students pay for their education through scholarships. Kevin also opened a space for students to have after-school tutors, calling it "The Durant Center."

As a public figure, Kevin has received several criticisms for his actions and decisions, but no one can deny the kind heart he continues to show others through his actions.