Longhorns Country

Former Texas Star Kevin Durant to Face Spurs, Victor Wembanyama at Moody Center

Former Texas Longhorns basketball star Kevin Durant will be returning to Austin during the upcoming NBA season.
Zach Dimmitt|
Oct 31, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant #35 guards San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama #1 during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant #35 guards San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama #1 during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports | Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

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Texas LonghornsPhoenix Suns

AUSTIN -- Fresh off of winning his fourth-career Olympic gold medal, former Texas Longhorns basketball star Kevin Durant can now officially prep for a trip back to the Forty Acres during the upcoming NBA season.

The NBA released the full regular-season schedule for all 30 teams Thursday and revealed that Durant and the Phoenix Suns will face off against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at the Moody Center in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 20. Tip-off is set fo 8:30 p.m. CT on TNT.

The Spurs have hosted four total games at the Moody Center over the past two seasons in what the franchise has dubbed the I-35 Series.

Victor Wembanyama, Kevin Durant
Nov 2, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) in the closing seconds of the game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The matchup against Phoenix will kick off a two-night series of designated "home" games that the Spurs will play in Austin during their annual Rodeo Road Trip away from the Alamo City. San Antonio will host the Detroit Pistons on the second night of the back-to-back.

Though Durant played his one season of college ball at the now-demolished Frank Erwin Center, he's almost guranteed to receive a warm welcome from the Austin crowd during starting lineup introductions.

In his only season as a Longhorn during the 2006-07 campaign under head coach Rick Barnes, Durant started all 35 games while averaging 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.9 blocks while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from 3-point range.

He would go on to be the No. 2 overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics in the 2007 NBA Draft and has since won two championships, two Finals MVPs, a regular-season MVP, four scoring titles and a Rookie of the Year Award while also being a 14-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection.

Durant and the Suns will begin their regular-season slate Wednesday, Oct. 23 on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers at the new Intuit Dome.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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