Kevin Durant's obsession with baseball caps He has his own unique way of choosing which one to wear, where, and why

In the docuseries Court of Gold, which landed on Netflix last February and is dedicated to Team USA's journey to Paris 2024, there’s a close-up that caught the attention of both NHL hockey and NBA basketball fans. Kevin Durant is seen tearfully speaking to the camera, sharing his Olympic experience—his fourth—once again ending with the Stars and Stripes draped over his shoulders and a gold medal around his neck. That short interview clip went viral, racking up over twenty million views on social media in less than twenty-four hours, thanks to one small detail that captured the public’s eye: the cap on KD’s head—a vintage model featuring the recognizable Spoked-B logo of the Boston Bruins, the Massachusetts-based ice hockey team.

The question came naturally upon seeing number 35 of the Phoenix Suns (now with the Houston Rockets) wearing the emblem of a franchise from another city: why wear a cap from a different team and city, and not his own? Why not a product from his own Boardroom media platform, or the KD True collection made with Nike? And anyway, why the Bruins specifically? Asked at a press conference, Durant brushed off the choice with few words. “It’s black.” A simple and deliberately simplistic explanation, part of a pattern we’ve seen before. For over a decade now, the Washington native’s caps have taken center stage—drawing cameras, driving social media trends—only for KD to consistently clarify that it’s simply a matter of aesthetic taste. Nothing more, nothing less. And above all, no hidden meanings—despite the hopes of fans in places like Boston, who were reading into it as a potential (and typically unreliable) social media clue.

Style

The first documented case dates back to the 2011 lockout period, when the then-star of the Oklahoma City Thunder appeared in a home video wearing a red Chicago Bulls snapback. And if the Bruins emblem sparked gossip and speculation in recent months, imagine the buzz back then—at the start of his career—with the logo of another NBA franchise on his head. “People don’t wear a hat because they support the team,” Durant had to clarify, slightly annoyed but also amused by the unnecessary attention. “They wear it because the hat looks good, and in this case, it was the only one I had with me.”

Reading between the lines—but not too much—the message is clear: let me wear what I want. Yes, even gear from rival teams, which foreshadowed the same reasoning KD would offer years later for picking the Bruins cap. According to him, it was a purely aesthetic choice: all-black to match Team USA’s Olympic tracksuit. But for those who see a hint of provocation in these choices—very much Durant’s style—can we really say they’re wrong? When he’s not sporting gear from other franchises, or opting for his usual hoodie or more winter-ready hats like a beanie (a frequent sight during his Brooklyn days), KD prefers simple caps with a brim. There are a few constants: dark palettes, minimal silhouettes and logos, no bold text or flashy patterns. During media availability and team travel, for example, he almost always appears in solid, neutral colors. In short, most of his headwear simply reflects a minimal, aesthetic taste—and often, that’s where the story ends. But not always.

Storytelling

In 2013, at a practice open to journalists during the playoffs, Durant showed up wearing a green and gold Seattle SuperSonics cap—a nod to the franchise that drafted him before relocating to Oklahoma City. The photo quickly circulated on Twitter via Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports, sparking renewed hope among Seattle fans for the NBA’s long-awaited return to the city. The same nostalgia had surfaced a few weeks earlier, when KD visited the women’s basketball team at Louisville (NCAA), fresh off an upset victory against Baylor. On that occasion, he wore a cap with the logo of the Seattle Mariners (baseball), navy blue with an emerald S. Another nostalgic piece appeared in spring 2025, during a private workout, where he wore the classic burnt-orange of the Texas Longhorns: a tribute to his college days in Austin before going pro.

In June 2017, Durant wrote the most controversial and unforgettable chapter of this headwear saga—on the day he got his revenge on the haters through a design printed on his cap. At a charity event hosted by teammate JaVale McGee—the JugLife Celebrity Softball Game—KD wore a pink cap featuring a cupcake and a Larry O’Brien Trophy (the NBA championship trophy); a direct response to his former fans who mocked him as a “cupcake” after he signed with Golden State, following a trend started by Kendrick Perkins and Russell Westbrook. A more recent case came in October 2023, early in his time with Devin Booker after the move to the Phoenix Suns. During a preseason game in Detroit—D-Book’s hometown—the two wore matching dad hats of the Tigers, Detroit’s MLB franchise. For Booker, it was a personal connection; for Durant, a matter of style—and possibly a gesture of solidarity with his new co-star. Upon arriving in town a few months earlier, KD had been spotted wearing a dad hat of the Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball), black with a dark logo, perfectly matching his signature color palette.

Another frequent reference is the Washington Commanders, his favorite NFL team. But not all of Durant’s hats carry other team or brand logos—quite the opposite. For over a decade, Nike has produced a line of personalized snapbacks, which KD once declared on Facebook that he “loved.” These hats have shown up multiple times during media days (in Brooklyn and Phoenix), podcast recordings, and interviews with Rich Kleiman, where KD is often seen wearing a black dad hat with the word BOARDROOM in block letters—identical to the one sold on the network’s website. Still, Durant never aggressively promotes his personal brand. He simply treats it like any other part of his wardrobe: an accessory that completes the outfit and, at most, reminds the public of his off-court projects.