NBA fans reacted to a rare instance of Kevin Durant pulling off a huge smile, in a recent wholesome viral moment that he had in a game.
Over at social media platform X, NBA fans gave their honest reactions to a recent viral video that showed veteran Kevin Durant all smiles as a former college classmate approached him from the courtside. The classmate wore a custom-made hoodie that had an old photo of her and DUrant printed on it.
For some fans, the sight of seeing the Rockets’ star smile and not be in a battle with hecklers on social media is a refreshing view.
“When last he smiled like that?” the fan said, adding in a crying emoji at the end.
When last he smiled like that?😭
— 财富 (@free_agent) December 11, 2025
In a recent podcast, former league guard Gilbert Arenas praised Durant’s relentless dedication to the game, saying the Houston Rockets star has devoted nearly his entire life to basketball and little else.
“The thing that makes Kevin Durant so elite is that he’s a mix between old school ’90s basketball with new generation tendencies,” Arenas said. “There was no social media (although Durant has admittedly enjoyed going back-and-forth with users on social media), no tunnel fits, no off-court drama, or at least it doesn’t blow up the way it does in this age of the internet. Back then, players just went out and played.”
Arenas emphasized that Durant’s willingness to “sacrifice everything” for his craft sets him apart from peers who pursue broader public lives or business ventures.
NBA Fans on Kevin Durant Viral Video: “A Straight Splash of Nostalgia”
Over at X, fans showed their appreciation for the wholesome moment Kevin Durant had with a former classmate, and the fact that his old photo resurfaced online, too. For some, the moment is pure nostalgia.
“KD’s grin could light up a whole arena, but that custom shirt?” someone said. “That’s a straight-up splash of nostalgia! They say you can’t go home again, but with friends like that, who needs to?”
KD couldn’t stop smiling when he recognized his friend from freshman year at Texas 😂
She got a custom shirt made with the picture they took in college 💯
(Via shabana75/IG) pic.twitter.com/6SXcPT1Akv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 11, 2025
Another fan echoed the sentiment, saying that nostalgia is something that all people need in their lives.
“The way he was smiling, its like bro saw her and immediately got brought back to high school,” the fan said. “We all need such nostalgia and reminiscence in our lives.”
More than news, NBA fans are on the edge for any franchise moves and trade rumors, with the deadline closing in for early next year.
For more sports content:
Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for your NBA and college basketball reading fix. You can reach out to Dan Agulto through email at papadanph@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
