Kevin Durant stuns, names Bruiser Wolf favorite — Rockets' nod
Kevin Durant surprised fans on social media by calling Detroit emcee Bruiser Wolf his “favorite new artist” in a viral video on X. Durant praised Wolf’s unconventional style and dense bars, saying the rapper’s flows “are gonna take you some time to get.” The 43-year-old Detroit native, real name Devaul Near, quickly reposted Durant’s clip and thanked the superstar, writing “KD the realest ever” on his X account.
This wasn’t Durant’s first public endorsement of Wolf. In November, while interviewing Pistons guard Cade Cunningham on Boardroom, Durant told Cunningham to check out Bruiser Wolf and called him his favorite artist from Detroit. Wolf, a member of Bruiser Brigade, has drawn attention for a distinctive, sometimes-described-as-“cursive” rapping approach and for blending vulnerability, humor and street observation. He released his debut album Dope Game Stupid in 2021 and has since built a reputation as an unorthodox voice out of Detroit.
Off-court shoutouts have bled into on-court headlines for Durant this week. The Houston Rockets routed a short-handed Brooklyn Nets in a wire-to-wire win, with Durant finishing a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes. The game also featured an awkward moment for Nets rookie Danny Wolf: a missed three rattled off the rim and struck Durant in the face, prompting a sharp trash-talk line from KD caught on camera. The rookie finished with nine points in 24 minutes off the bench.
The Rockets’ victory was their fourth straight, extending a run that began after a pair of losses before Christmas. Houston’s current stretch has been fueled by improved team play and easier scheduling, with Durant’s consistency a major factor. Meanwhile, Durant’s public embrace of Bruiser Wolf has drawn fresh attention to the Detroit rapper, showing how NBA stars’ cultural touchpoints can lift underground artists into broader conversation.
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