PHOENIX SUNS

Seattle kid Corbin Carroll makes new D-backs supporter Kevin Durant feel old

Apr 19, 2023, 11:05 AM | Updated: 11:08 am

Kevin Durant, Diamondbacks hat...

Suns F Kevin Durant wears a Diamondbacks baseball hat after the Suns defeated the Clippers in Game 2 of their first-round series. (Kellan Olson/Arizona Sports)

(Kellan Olson/Arizona Sports)

Settled just more than two months in the desert, Kevin Durant even has an Arizona Diamondbacks game under his belt.

Before the Phoenix Suns star began his team’s playoff run, he took in an April 10 D-backs win against the Milwaukee Brewers wearing the jersey of Arizona rookie Corbin Carroll.

It was quite the moment for the 22-year-old Carroll, who the Diamondbacks believe will become a star in his own sport in due time. It wasn’t just that one of the best ever from another sport showed respect. Carroll, a Seattle-groomed prospect, remembers watching Durant’s rookie season in 2007-08 with the Seattle Supersonics before they moved to Oklahoma City.

Born in August 2000, Carroll was 7 years old that season.

Durant, a baseball fan himself, knew of Carroll before joining him in Arizona.

“Just last year when he came up … he played a few games,” Durant said Tuesday after a Game 2 first-round playoff series win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“You hear about these guys. Then to find out he was a Seattle kid, he said he watched me growing up, which made me feel old. Glad we’re in the same city doing our thing.”

Durant was asked about supporting the D-backs while wearing the team’s hat in his postgame press conference.

“Just try to support the hometown, local team. I know they support us so just try to show some love,” Durant said.

Carroll earned an eight-year, $111 million contract extension with just 32 games under his belt last season. Technically still a rookie, the speedy outfielder is batting .274 with a team-leading 32 total bases and four home runs as of Wednesday morning.

“He’s fastest in the league,” Durant said Tuesday. “They got a bright future out here.”

And the compliment probably means a bit to Carroll, just as it probably hit the outfielder a certain way when he learned just more than a week back that one of the NBA’s best players was watching him while wearing his jersey.

“It looks like KD is turning into a big Corbin Carroll fan,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after that game against the Brewers.

“I don’t think there’s anything cooler than that, you have one of the greatest basketball players of all time putting on your jersey. That never gets old, I’m sure.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Damion Lee, Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ Damion Lee is back after fearing a knee injury would end his career

Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee is back after a rare surgery that he thought could potentially end his NBA career.

1 day ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of a...

Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns have concerted effort to meet NBA trend of taking more 3s

The Phoenix Suns have a coach who wants more modern offensive philosophies like attempting more 3s. Will that finally get them to change?

2 days ago

Valley Suns jerseys and Goodwill patch...

Kevin Zimmerman

Valley Suns reveal jersey design for 2024-25, Goodwill sponsor patch

The Valley Suns revealed jerseys for their debut season. Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona (GCNA) will be a logo patch sponsor.

2 days ago

Jalen Smith #10, Frank Kaminsky #8 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns watch from the bench dur...

Anne-Marie Iemmolo

Suns training camp signee Frank Kaminsky looks to make his return to the roster

Frank Kaminsky looks to rejoin the Phoenix Suns as he competes for a spot on the team's roster during training camp.

3 days ago

Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait...

Anne-Marie Iemmolo

Suns’ Grayson Allen got yoked this offseason

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Grayson Allen's offseason workout routine has paid off. He debuted his muscular build during the Suns' media day.

3 days ago

Bradley Beal Phoenix Suns...

Aaron Schmidt

Suns’ Bradley Beal looks ahead after last season: ‘That joy, that energy’ wasn’t there

Bradley Beal is focused on having fun again after his debut season with the Phoenix Suns admittedly left him lacking joy and feeling lost.

3 days ago

Seattle kid Corbin Carroll makes new D-backs supporter Kevin Durant feel old