Why does Kevin Durant lie about his height? Real height and reason explored

Kevin Durant is one of the most lethal NBA scorers. He stands at almost seven feet, yet his shooting touch is so soft that he can torch opponents from anywhere on the floor.

The combination of Durant's height, athleticism and shooting skills make him incredibly difficult to guard. However, the Phoenix Suns forward has lied about his height, and it's very difficult to correctly estimate it.

Some basketball fans claim that KD is 7-foot tall, while others don't think that he's taller than 6' 10". Whatever Kevin Durant's height may be, fans agree that he uses it successfully to achieve fabulous results on the court.

---

Kevin Durant has lied about his height due to several reasons

Durant's height has varied from year to year (Image via Getty Images)

Durant is listed at 6' 10" in the 2022-23 season. However, his listed height has varied from 6' 9" to 6' 11". There were even rumors that he's seven feet tall, but he has never been officially measured at this size.

The NBA's official measurements are quite inconsistent, so that comes as no surprise. However, the 13-time All-Star admitted that he has lied about his height and that he changes it depending on the situation.

In a KNBR interview in 2016, the then-Golden State Warriors forward revealed his true height. At the time of the interview, Durant was listed at 6' 9". He said:

"I was recorded at 6’ 10” and three-quarters with no shoes, so with my shoes on, I’m 7-feet," Durant revealed.

You may also like: 3 ways in which Kevin Durant's height has made him a cheat code in modern NBA

The superstar forward also talked about his position and how his height affects it. Traditionally, power forwards are close to seven feet, while small forwards are usually not taller than 6' 9" or so.

"I’ve always thought it was cool to say I’m a 6-9 small forward,” Durant said for Wall Street Journal. “That’s the prototypical size for a small forward. Anything taller than that, and they’ll start saying, 'Ah, he’s a power forward.'"

Besides his professional career, there's another reason why Kevin Durant lies about his height. The two-time NBA champion supposedly has no problem revealing his true height to women, but the situation is much different in basketball.

"When I’m talking to women, I’m seven feet," the superstar forward said. "In basketball circles, I’m 6-9.”

Durant also revealed his height in 2015. It was his last season with the OKC Thunder, and he led them to one of the best records in the league. In December, KD had a game-saving block against Chris Paul, which he attributed to his height.

"He's six feet (tall)," Durant after the clutch block. "I'm 6-11."

You may also like: What is Athletes Unlimited? Taking a look at the venture Kevin Durant is set to make a major investment in

Durant is currently listed at 6' 10", but he's likely at least an inch taller. However, that's not a big deal, and the Phoenix Suns will mostly use the four-time scoring champion in his natural position.