Home > Video > Remember that time KD couldn’t bench 185? Yeah, he can now

Remember that time KD couldn’t bench 185? Yeah, he can now

UPDATE: I think a lot of people took this as real. I guess I should’ve made it more clear that it most likely definitely isn’t.

Before the 2007 draft, everyone flipped their collective crap when Kevin Durant wasn’t able to bench press 185 pounds. He was the only player at the combine unable to do so and certain media personalities immediately took that and proclaimed he’d be a bust because of it.

Well guess what. People get stronger. Especially when they work like KD does. Observe:

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@jtshoopsblog
Well, no. 315 is marginal, maybe average among football players. As a high school football player, five or so teammates can do that THIS year, our school record is 330, and I'm at 260 and I only weigh 160. And even though I would love Durant having offensive-lineman strength, his lanky self works just fine for me.

Look at all these perceptive people figuring it out. I'm impressed.

last year he said he could finally bench 185. No way he added 130 to his max in 8 months or whatever. Either way, the camera angle gives it away.

well a bench bar is 45 pounds

All you have to do is look at what little of his biceps you can see to tell that they are not straining under the "weight" since there are ppl on each end lifting it for him.

Kly76 5 pts

@Khaz Bench is a tricep lift. But nice try.

That's bullshit. Nothice that they do not even focus on the weight. Ain't no way he can bench 315lbs. Most FOOTBALL player can't do that!!!!!!

Very nice. And I must say, this is yet another example of why I visit Daily Thunder. "Flipped their crap" is a term I was unfamiliar with, so my vocabulary has expanded once more merely by pointing my browser to this web site. How do you put a value on something like that?

@Sammy
yeah that makes sense, however if they drafted durant, they could have grabbed a center the following year, if they kept the same draft position robin lopez, roy hibbert, javale mcgee were available and even if durant was just a scorer roy/durant would be some one two punch.

Though oden still has a chance to be a good player, if he can ever get healthy.

@f5alcon
I know Portland fans that say if they knew then what they know now about Oden, they'da rather take Horford than Durant. The argument goes that Durant woulda never developed the way he did for the Thunder if he was playing under Nate and Roy. That he'd never have developed to be more than a good shooter/scorer with terrible defense, and, if that's the scenario, Horford would be more helpful to winning a championship.

I've been lifting most of my life and that didn't look right to me.

But I can't dunk, so just my impression.

Anonymous :@DizzyDai
He has no doubter at this point. Absolutely ZERO. Nada.

some portland fans still think oden is better

they should have been more realistic and gone for 200 or something

@jack

You must not have spent much time lifting weights, eh?

@Ozark

I think I've read that Dwight Howard's 1RM is 345 on bench press. Durant's arms are even longer. So yeah 400 seems like a phyiscal imposibility...

Seriously KD, I couldn't give a crap if you could only lift 15lbs, your still the man!!! Who gives a crap how much you can lift, how high you can jump or how fast you can run, if you can play you can play!!!!

@jack

Olympic bar bells are usually 45lbs :)

there is only 270 on there anyway, unless he has a 45 pound bar lol

is it game time yet...this day is going so slow

If you could bench 315 that fluidly and quickly, you could bench 400 lbs. I don't think anyone with arms that long can bench 400, anywhere on the planet.

@Jax Raging Bile Duct

Meh. KD's rep is pasted all over ESPN too, including SportsCenter. Kids these days don't know anything unless it's posted on facebook.

I watched some of the other vids at the bottom of the frame. Does anyone else think they are creepy. Kinda stalking-like?

@Mark!

They're targeting young fans. Young fans are the ones buying the shoes, youtube and viral videos are the fad of their generation, and they don't read blogs enough to know about KD's everyman reputation.

The video's obviously a joke. I'm just going to assume that Royce has a very dry sense of humor and he was joking too :)

PS: I really don't get the appeal of these viral videos, but whatever. They must not be for me. Are they done by Nike? What kind of image are they trying to build up for KD? NBA Everyman? Does he really need help with that?

justin :
It’s pretty obvious just watching KD’s body that he’s not moving 315 lbs.

Yeah. No good.

i don't care if KD couldn't lift 85 pounds.. when has anyone ever had to do the bench press with :04 seconds on the clock and behind by 1?

This viral campaign is awesome, but it's making a lot of fans look like idiots.

It's pretty obvious just watching KD's body that he's not moving 315 lbs.

I wonder who is standing just outside the frame helping him lift the weights? KD is even half smirking about it. Haha, I love it.

Yea, I vaguely recall comments from KD last season saying he still couldn't bench 185lbs.

Not that we care.

Completely off topic,but Chris Bosh is such a complete waste on the Heat. He belongs on a title contending team where he is the 2nd best player. He may eventually regret going there instead of someplace like Houston. Playing with 2 other perimeter oriented stars does not suit his game.

Yep, that video is extremely fake. I was impressed before I saw it. Oh well, he's still a beast.

Yah, the Thunder would let KD bench 315 without spotters, not that he could.

I think if anything the weights are props, he moves it too casually.

I hope your not seriously believing KD can bench 315... The camerawork makes it obviously fake.

hahahaha, there are 2 dudes on each end lifting it. Kd next time zoom out:) You still the man though

Am I the only one who sees the way that video is framed and thinks "hmmm, I wonder if Nike has some people standing right outside the frame, helping him lift that weight."

Good for KD. Now perhaps a few doubters will hush up.