Kevin Durant has cemented himself as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, recently surpassing Michael Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list. Achievements like that are built on discipline, routine, and relentless preparation, but even Durant was surprised to learn just how different and tough that process looks in Major League Baseball.
Why Kevin Durant Was Baffled by Aaron Judge’s MLB Game-Day Routine
Durant sat down with New York Yankees star Aaron Judge for Boardroom’s YouTube series ahead of MLB Opening Day, where the two compared their game-day routines. The conversation quickly highlighted a major contrast, with Durant taken aback by how early and extensive a typical MLB day can be.
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Judge explained to Durant during “March Cover Story.” “Two o’clock, we’re getting there [for a 7 p.m. game], but it’s like you’re getting stretched out, you’re doing stuff in the training room. We got meetings.”
Durant then broke down his own NBA routine, which begins much later in the day and is more condensed.
“Last night we played at 7, left the hotel at 4,” Durant said. “As soon as I get to the arena, I eat my pregame meal, hop on the training table, stretch soft tissue for about 20 minutes, then on the court for 10–12 minutes.
“From 4:45 to 5:45, I’m doing something. Then I’m waiting. From 5:45 to 7, I’m chilling – Normatech, songs for about 30 minutes, on my phone, watching film of the last game or their last game. If it’s 20 minutes before tip, the coach comes in, we go over the scout report, watch film again, then we’re ready. It creeps up fast. It feels like a lot of time, but I look up, and I’m ready.”
The judge explained that while there is some downtime, the MLB schedule fills up quickly with preparation.
“We’re kicking it, but meetings take a while. Batting practice is an hour, and you prep before that. We eat, BS a lot, but it sneaks up. You get to the field, go through your routine, and before you know it, it’s 7 p.m.,” he said.
Since Opening Day, Judge and the Yankees have started strong with three straight wins before falling 2-1 to the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
Durant, meanwhile, continues to thrive following his blockbuster move to the Houston Rockets from the Phoenix Suns in the offseason. He is averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 51.7% from the field, helping Houston stay firmly in the playoff mix at 45-29, good for sixth in the Western Conference.
