When the Houston Rockets announced Kevin Durant’s arrival ahead of the 2025-26 season, the move sparked excitement about what the team could become.
However, things did not go according to plan, and Durant’s trainer, Dash Lovell, defended Durant against criticism following the Houston Rockets’ early playoff exit. As the 2026-27 season approaches, though, there are encouraging signs surrounding the veteran forward.
Kevin Durant’s Trainer Shares Surprising Insight Into His Work Ethic
Lovell recently spoke with R.org and highlighted one trait that still stands out about the future Hall of Famer: his desire to learn. Lovell explained that one of the things he enjoys most about training Durant is his willingness to keep learning.
“The ProActive people have done a great job with keeping him strong and keeping him healthy,” he said. “Kevin has been very, very consistent. He’s been in the gym. It’s shocking, man, to see someone at this point of his career still get to the gym and work so hard.”
“He’s still one of my favorite guys to work with, and it’s not because he’s Kevin. It’s because you never see a Hall of Famer look at you and say, ‘Am I doing this correctly?’ He wants to be taught at this age,” Lovell said during the interview.
He also pointed out that Durant continues to improve from one session to the next.
“He understands that this is what got him here,” he said. “So he asks questions. He listens. He pays attention. The dude is a mother-[expletive]. We’ve been doing a lot of great stuff this summer, throwing a lot of double teams at him, guarding him live, and filling up the gaps on the floor to make him have to play in small, tight spaces.”
“KD is getting better day by day. It’s crazy that he continues to get better, given how good he is already. He’s amazing, man. He’s been great to work with, and he’s always trying to improve,” Lovell added during the interview.
Durant arrived in Houston as part of a blockbuster seven-team trade with the Phoenix Suns. Despite entering his late 30s, he remained one of the league’s most productive stars during his first season with Houston.
The 37-year-old played 78 of the Rockets’ 82 games and averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 36.4 minutes per game. He also shot 87.4% from the free-throw line.
Houston finished fifth in the Western Conference at 52-30 but suffered a first-round exit against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant appeared in just one game during the six-game series.
Durant missed Game 1 after suffering a right knee contusion during practice. Although he returned for Game 2, a left ankle sprain sidelined him for the remainder of the series.
Lovell argued that Durant’s injuries limited his ability to influence Houston’s playoff outcome. The 2-time Finals MVP, however, appears unfazed by the outside noise.
During a Zoom seminar that O.U.R. Mothers hosted, Durant told Houston Rockets On SI how he handles criticism and public narratives.
“I just do it. It’s that simple,” he said. “I know where I came from. I understand where I’ve been. These experiences in life have helped me stay grounded in who I am.”
“I love to play basketball. My purpose right now, at this moment, is being the best basketball player that I can be and continue to push what me and Rich (Kleiman) have going with business. The main thing is to keep setting a good example on the court, and everything falls from there. I try not to focus on anything else,” Durant said.
If Lovell’s comments are anything to go by, Durant is still finding ways to improve his game even at this stage of his career. With another season on the horizon, the 16-time All-Star continues working to improve after last season’s disappointing finish.
