If we're talking about players who live, breathe, and bleed basketball, Kevin Durant is the first to raise his hand. The Slim Reaper has never been shy about his obsession with the game—he's even gotten emotional just gushing about what hoops means to him. So when he linked up with Memphis Grizzlies legends Tony Allen and Zach Randolph on the Out the Mud Podcast, the conversation naturally turned into a hoop-head's fantasy draft. The assignment? Name his all-time starting five of 'pure hoopers.' Not just the greatest players, but the ones born to hoop, the guys who treat the court like a canvas. Durant didn't flinch. His five is a mix of wizardry, Mamba mentality, effortless buckets, and straight-up fire—and it's got the streets buzzing even in 2026.

Let's break it down, position by position, because KD's picks are too delicious to gloss over.

Point Guard – Kyrie Irving (The Magician)

Durant didn't even let the question sink in before he blurted out Kyrie Irving. No hesitation, no second-guessing. That's what sharing a backcourt in Brooklyn does to you—you see the magic up close. Kyrie is the walking definition of a pure hooper. The handle is from another planet. Crossovers, hesitations, spin moves strung together like a symphony. Every dribble tells a story, and defenders are just hoping the ending isn't an ankle-breaker.

Uncle Drew's ambidexterity is the kind of skill that makes coaches weep. He can finish with either hand, often in ways you've never seen before. Nikola Jokić learned that the hard way on a crazy game-winner in 2024. But the moment that cemented Kyrie's legacy as a pure hooper? Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. Pulling up from deep over Stephen Curry, ice in his veins, delivering Cleveland its first chip. That's the stuff hoop dreams are made of. In 2026, even as a 34-year-old maestro with the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie's bag is still deeper than the ocean, and KD knows it.

Shooting Guard – Kobe Bryant (The Black Mamba)

This one got tricky. Durant was torn between the ghost of Michael Jordan and the Mamba himself. Ultimately, he went with Kobe Bryant—not because MJ wasn't a pure hooper, but because Kobe was the ultimate student of the game who turned obsession into art. As KD put it, Kobe did a spot-on impression of Michael Jordan his entire career, but he added his own venom to it.

The footwork, the fadeaway, the relentless will to rip your heart out—Kobe mastered it all. You want pure hooper energy? Think about the 81-point explosion against Toronto, or dropping 60 in his farewell game like it was a pick-up run at Venice Beach. That's the Mamba Mentality in full effect. Durant has always been vocal about his admiration for Kobe, and picking him over MJ in this lineup is the ultimate salute. It's not about who's better; it's about who embodies the soul of a hooper, and Kobe's soul was drenched in hardwood sweat.

Small Forward – Tracy McGrady (The Blueprint)

At first, Durant threw out Carmelo Anthony's name—a phone-booth scorer who could jab-step you to sleep and rise up over anyone. But then, like a lightbulb moment, he corrected himself: "Nah, T-Mac." And honestly, it makes perfect sense. Tracy McGrady is the prototype for Kevin Durant's game. Before KD was pulling up from the logo like it was nothing, T-Mac was doing it with that slow-motion smoothness that made defenders look helpless.

Peak T-Mac was a three-level scoring demon. He had the handle to break you down, the elevation to shoot over you, and the IQ to pick you apart. And let's not forget the single greatest sequence of individual brilliance in league history: 13 points in 33 seconds against the Spurs in 2004. That wasn't just hooping—that was a spiritual experience. In 2026, as scoring unicorns continue to multiply, T-Mac's influence is stamped all over the league, and Durant's pick is a love letter to the man who made effortless scoring cool.

Power Forward – Kevin Durant (The Easy Money Sniper)

No surprise here—KD slid himself right into the four spot. And why wouldn't he? A 7-footer with guard skills? That's a glitch in the matrix, and Durant knows it. Four scoring titles, two rings, an MVP, and a lifetime of buckets that make no sense. LeBron James called him the most equipped scorer of all time, and in 2026, even at 38 years old and still dropping 30-point games with the Phoenix Suns, that statement holds up.

KD's game is video-game smooth. He can get to his spot whenever he wants, pull up over anyone, and make it look like a casual layup line. That's pure hooper territory—not just skill, but an artistic expression of the game. By putting himself on this team, Durant isn't being arrogant; he's stating facts. He's the kind of baller who wears his love for the game on his sleeve, and that's exactly what this lineup is about.

Center – Kevin Garnett (The Big Ticket of Passion)

Rounding out the squad is Kevin Garnett, and this pick is as much about the heart as it is about the game. KG wasn't known as a primary scorer, but his two-way dominance and volcanic passion made him a pure hooper in the truest sense. The man literally bled for this game. Durant could've gone with a traditional big, but he chose Garnett because the energy, the trash talk, the fire—that's what hoop dreams are built on.

In his MVP season, Garnett put up 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks. He was a 6-foot-11 hybrid who could guard anyone, knock down mid-range jumpers, and turn a quiet arena into a mosh pit with a single scream. Whether it was in Minnesota, Boston, or Brooklyn, KG was the heartbeat of every locker room. That's what a pure hooper does—they elevate the game beyond X's and O's. In an era where load management dampens the vibe, Garnett's ghost still reminds us what it means to leave it all on the floor.

So there you have it—Durant's all-pure-hooper starting five: Kyrie, Kobe, T-Mac, KD, and KG. It's a lineup dripping with craft, competitiveness, and an undying love for the rock. No analytics, no politics—just hoopers being hoopers. And in a basketball world as obsessed with narratives as it is with three-point efficiency in 2026, that's the kind of energy we could all use a little more of.