By Mummy Grace 
Commanders Look to Break NFC Championship Drought with Kevin Durant’s Support
The Washington Commanders are set to face the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the NFL Divisional Round, aiming to end a 33-year NFC Championship drought. Entering as 10-point underdogs against the 15-2 Lions, the Commanders have at least one high-profile supporter in their corner: NBA superstar and Washington, D.C. native Kevin Durant.
Durant, an avid Commanders fan, is confident his team can pull off a historic upset. Speaking to reporters, Durant predicted a 24-21 victory for the Commanders and praised their newfound identity as a football team.
“It’s great to say we have an identity. I feel like we’ve finally got something solid as a team, which we didn’t have for a long time,” Durant said.
Born in Washington, D.C., Durant attended high schools across Maryland and Virginia before becoming one of the NBA’s greatest players. He currently ranks as the league’s third-leading scorer this season and is ninth on the all-time scoring list.
Durant has long been vocal about his support for the Commanders. In 2022, he expressed interest in joining the team’s ownership group and has even appeared at training camp. This postseason, Durant has taken his fandom public, sharing his predictions in partnership with FanDuel.
For the Divisional Round, Durant posted his picks on social media with the caption: “Let’s get this W @Commanders”. Alongside his pick of the Commanders over the Lions, Durant also chose Kansas City to beat Houston, Philadelphia to defeat Los Angeles, and Baltimore to edge out Buffalo.
Durant’s Commanders enthusiasm has sparked friendly rivalry with his All-NBA teammate, Devin Booker, a proud Michigan native and diehard Lions fan. When asked if the two plan to place a friendly wager, Durant didn’t hesitate:
“Fo sho. I’m hitting him up on the side. Don’t even worry about that.”
The timing works perfectly for the basketball stars, as Durant and Booker’s Phoenix Suns play the Detroit Pistons at 4 p.m. With luck, the duo might even make it to Ford Field in time to catch the Commanders take on the Lions in person.
The winner of tonight’s game will advance to the NFC Championship, keeping their Super Bowl dreams alive.