In a segment on “The Roommates” podcast, “Fat Joe” told the story of when Kevin Durant ran out of the infamous Rucker Park in New York City. According to rapper Fat Joe, Durant dropped 82 points in the pickup game before a mob of angry streetballers tried resorting to violence.
“He scored like 82 points in the third quarter. He doesn’t like me telling this story, but they chased him out of Rucker Park. They wanted to beat him up. He whipped their a** so bad that they tried to beat him up out there. He was checking it out and then — whoosh, a three. I was there at the game. He scored like 80 points, and I was out there, and they chased him into the truck. He had to go.”
Rucker Park is one of the most notorious courts in America. Located at the border of Harlem and Washington Heights, countless athletes have stepped foot on those courts, and several basketball legends have made it a tradition to hoop there on at least one occasion.
Kobe Bryant once played there and torched everyone in a pair of Air Force Ones. Kyrie Irving has stopped by several times and even brought his family in a third year. Back in 2003, rapper Jay-Z even planned to have an entire game at the park featuring NBA superstars such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Sadly, while the game never happened, Rucker Park remains an icon for the basketball community, and it’s unlikely to lose that status anytime soon. But for young players looking to prove themselves on that court, it might be wise to hold back so you don’t risk getting run off the floor.
Was Kevin Durant Pushed Out Of New York City?
Durant’s moment at Rucker Park was just a preview of what would come when he moved to the city back in 2019. After arriving with Kyrie Irving, Durant hoped to build something special with the Nets and establish a new home for himself and his family in the Big Apple. As two superstars in their prime, New Yorkers expected big things from Durant and his Nets.
Instead, Durant’s tenure in New York was arguably more explosive than his game at Rucker Park. With just a few playoff series to show for a time in Brooklyn, Durant was never able to deliver on expectations alongside Irving.
By the start of last season, Durant was ready to depart from the franchise and never look back. He demanded a trade that sent him to Phoenix, and it’s where he’s been ever since. It seems New York has never been super hospitable to the former MVP.
This season, with averages of 27.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, Durant is still one of the top players in the world, and his fearless approach is set to have the Suns in the thick of the title race for the next few years to come.
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