And after all the medical debates and ongoing questions about his physical health, Durant is insistent on maintaining his mental health.
That means making the off-the-cuff statement to reporters last month in Las Vegas that "I feel like I'm the best player in the world. That's how confident I feel; that's how confident I am." Then last week in Spain, Durant said it again, via Ruptly TV: "Yes, I'm still the best player in the world."
The words were met by laughter in Madrid at the promotional event for Durant's Nike shoe. He sounded that cocky about it.
It might seem odd or arrogant or foolish for Durant to be boasting like this after struggling through 27 games last season because of foot problems. In the broader context of these broken bones, though? It is actually even more understandable.
Durant won't let go of his confidence when he has been forced to let go of so much already.
The way he said he was the best in Vegas was matter-of-fact, same as he did in revealing his foot had cracked again before the last surgery.
Saying he's the best isn't some declaration to Durant.
It's a statement of status quo.
And in Durant's world, his former status is something to which he must aspire.
The fact that he is unflinching about his confidence is the only way he avoids lowering his expectations.
That's what this is about: his selling himself on what he can still be—not convincing fans, reporters, peers. This is not about his convincing even general managers eyeing his coming contract expiration that will make for the greatest non-LeBron free agency the NBA has ever seen.
Durant's foot breakdown and difficult rebuild have already forced him to change his basic perspective.
"It gives me a greater appreciation," he told me in Vegas, "for just walking."
With that, it's also human nature to lower those expectations.
If you're pleased just to be walking, it's quite a challenge to be so laser-determined that you are satisfied only if you again clear your old bar of averaging 32 points for the season.
Therefore, we have Durant's private public-relations push, marketing for his own mind. This is not the time to shrug and look down at how increasingly loose Durant has been with his lips and confidence in recent seasons.
He still ranks the retooled Oklahoma City Thunder "right at the top" of teams for the coming season, and his positivity is unwavering.
Asked about his career to date, Durant said: "I don't think I had any lows. I went through some adversity, but that's a part of life. That's a part of this journey, and I knew it.
"It was tough [health-wise]; don't get me wrong. But I never wanted to quit. I never thought I got worse as a player. I never thought that."
He can tell you that we just had the most watched NBA Finals since Michael Jordan was on the court (1998)—and Durant can admit he was flat-out "jealous" of Stephen Curry and LeBron James during June.
Two years ago, Durant was James' lone rival at the top. James Harden has become viewed by some as a better pure scorer, and Durant's OKC teammate Russell Westbrook actually is the league's defending scoring champion. Anthony Davis, meanwhile, has stolen Durant's thunder in the fantasy basketball world as the great all-around statistical freak.
What he can control is whether he stews in jealousy and negativity or instead carries the same old confidence all over the globe until the day he can prove himself consistently on the court.
Even Durant's rave review of Westbrook's efforts last season does not get stated without his sounding that personal note of past helplessness.
"It was amazing to see a guy at the point guard position take over the game from all aspects and will his team with his passion, his enthusiasm, his energy on top of his skill," Durant said. "It was incredible to watch. I was pissed I wasn't out there to help him out. But I could tell he learned a lot and gained a lot of confidence."
Durant's production might well have to be scaled back, at least for the coming season. He admits he must do that at least initially with his practice schedule, to protect his foot. The guy has averaged 38 minutes for his eight-year NBA career, and perhaps that must drop way down.
Perhaps it's more realistic to project the clearly healthy and newly married Westbrook as the guy more likely to emerge further and be team and even league MVP.
But Durant is leaving no doubt that he still believes in himself. And until he loses some faith in his ability, anything remains possible with this guy.
In the most important regard, nothing has changed.
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