Kevin Durant Wins Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award

Kevin Durant may be viewed as a villain by many NBA fans, but his humanitarian efforts make him one of the league’s good guys.

Many NBA fans were outraged at Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Warriors in 2016.

KD went from being one of the league’s most beloved players to a villain immediately after his move to Golden State made them the most talented team in NBA history.

While Durant’s basketball decision drew ire from fans around the world, his work off the court has touched numerous lives and earned him the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

KD received the award at the annual Sports Humanitarian of the Year Awards in Los Angeles presented by ESPN.

This particular award is given annually to an athlete whose leadership “has created a positive impact on their community through sports.”

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Durant has spearheaded numerous humanitarian efforts during his NBA career.

He began the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation in 2012 while he was in Oklahoma City. His foundation aims to “enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic, and social programs.”

Durant also donated $1 million to victims of an Oklahoma tornado in 2013, and funded basketball courts for local children.

KD has recently given back to his hometown in Maryland by committing $10 million to a program by the name of College Track that gives underprivileged children the tools they need to further their education at the collegiate level.

Durant and the rest of the Warriors’ organization celebrated their championship by taking kids to the African-American museum in Washington D.C. instead of the customary trip to the White House.

Next: Kevin Durant, Steve Kerr remind us that pro athletes are people too

Say what you want about Durant, Golden State, and their dominance over the league on the court. KD’s efforts off the court proves that he’s much more of a hero than a villain.