In a move that only Kevin Durant could—and would—make, the Houston Rockets’ superstar has sent the basketball world into a frenzy with his personal all-time starting five. Forget the conventional picks; Durant’s lineup, chosen during an NBA 2K26 session on Boardroom, is a fascinating blend of new-school brilliance, personal preference, and a signature dose of KD controversy.
The rules were simple: build your dream team with yourself in it, but bypass the usual Mount Rushmore figures. Durant didn’t just bypass them; he sidestepped entirely, selecting:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Kevin Durant
Victor Wembanyama
Kevin Garnett
Klay Thompson
The most glaring omission? The holy trinity of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. But it was the inclusion of his former “Splash Brother” that truly lit the fuse.
Fans immediately took to social media, with reactions ranging from baffled to outright dismissive:
“Oh come on, having Klay in any all-time starting five is absurd.”
“Klay over MJ? Are we in bonus content territory now?”
Many questioned the choice of Thompson, especially in light of his recent, less-dominant stint with the Dallas Mavericks. Yet, this is classic KD—unfiltered, unbothered by public perception, and always ready to back his own unique basketball worldview.
The gaming session also offered a glimpse into Durant’s legendary obsession with NBA 2K. He recounted a story of playing 100 games in one night before a real-life matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“By the time I was 50 games deep, it was around midnight. I thought, ‘I’ve got a game tomorrow,’ but there I was, still playing until 3 a.m.,” Durant confessed to teammate Amen Thompson. This anecdote perfectly captures the competitor who lives and breathes basketball, even in the digital realm.
While his dream team may not win a popular vote, it provides an unfiltered look into the mind of one of the game’s most intriguing talents. He values two-way versatility, shooting gravity, and perhaps most of all, the confidence to trust his own judgment over tradition.
As the Houston Rockets push for a championship, they have a leader who isn’t afraid to be different. And if his real-life lineup can mirror the shooting, length, and skill of his virtual one, the rest of the league should be on high alert.