And so Durant delivered a flawless and heartfelt address without notes or cues. It was his moment and he owned it. He was introspective and insightful, funny and frank. He smiled. He cried. He laughed. “I just went up there and let it all out,” Durant said. “I think I did a good job of it.”

From the moment he walked through the crowd to the tune of “Thunderstruck” and climbed his gangly frame on stage, Durant couldn’t control his emotions. As he took his seat in front of teammates and assistant coaches, and alongside Thunder coach Scott Brooks, general manager Sam Presti and Kia Motors executive Percy Vaughn, Durant tried to cover up his smile. No chance. Then came the tears. They flowed and flowed. When he heard his name announced as the league’s Most Valuable Player for the first time publicly by Thunder play-by-play man Brian Davis. When he thought back to the tough times his family endured. When he reflected on the never-ending support of teammates who told him he could be here. And when he saved Russell Westbrook for last among his teammates when telling each of them exactly what they mean to him. He cracked jokes, too.