Presence not profile

Kevin Durant has always been at war with circumstance. His uniforms have changed, but the consistency of his stat lines comes with a familiar undercurrent: The quest for control in a league that treats it like currency. Taken in this context, his move to the Rockets is more reflective of reclamation than of relocation. And, yes, he appears to have latched on to a situation where he can finally be at peace with the terms.

Think about it. The Warriors gave him titles but little contentment. The Suns promised partnership but provided prostration. So, in retrospect, when he spoke of the need to “wash my hands” of both, it was laced not with bitterness but fatigue; for all intents, he sought to get away from systems he believed did not accord him respect. The irony, of course, is that his very quest for autonomy often isolated him; the brilliance that made him a singular force also hindered his assimilation.

In any case, the Rockets seem to have caught him at the right time. They may be laced with youth, but, under head coach Ime Udoka, they’re likewise disciplined. Which means they want him to set a standard, not be a savior. His return to Texas, where he first tested his gifts as a Longhorn, thus gives the latest chapter of his career no small measure of symmetry. Ambition continues to meet form, but his pursuit of success is now narrower and less forgiving given his losing battle with Father Time.

Significantly, his debut with the Rockets left much to be desired: a double-overtime loss off a handful of critical blunders. That said, the fact that they came close to prevailing against the vaunted Thunder cannot but be viewed as a positive. There are 81 more games to negotiate in the regular season, during which they fully expect to be much, much better. And, throughout the journey, he envisions being the anchor and not necessarily the face. Presence, and not profile, is what matters for all to be right in his world.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.