Kevin Durant, one of the NBA’s biggest stars and a self-proclaimed lifelong Washington Commanders fan, recently broke his silence about why he developed a deep disdain for the Dallas Cowboys, a team that once held his admiration. In a candid interview, Durant opened up about his shift in loyalty and the reasons behind his strong feelings toward “America’s Team.”
Durant’s Childhood Love for the Cowboys
Growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, Durant was surrounded by intense rivalries between the Washington Commanders (formerly the Redskins) and the Dallas Cowboys. As a kid, though, Durant was drawn to the Cowboys, one of the NFL’s most glamorous and successful teams during the 1990s. “They were America’s Team,” Durant said. “Back in the day, I liked them. They were winning, and everyone loved them.”
The Cowboys’ star players of that era, including Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin, captured Durant’s attention, much like many kids across the country. However, as Durant matured and grew deeper into his identity as a Washington fan, the narrative began to shift.
The Turning Point
Durant pinpointed the turning point in his relationship with the Cowboys as he grew older and became more connected to his Washington roots. “As I got older, I realized how much Cowboys fans annoyed me,” Durant admitted with a laugh. “I couldn’t stand how much hype they got every year, and they always came up short. It got frustrating.”
The growing arrogance of Cowboys fans, especially in the face of repeated postseason failures, struck a nerve with Durant. “I started to see a pattern where Cowboys fans would talk so much before the season, like they’d already won the Super Bowl. Then the season would end, and they hadn’t even made the playoffs or got knocked out early.”
This frustration only deepened as Durant became more of a Commanders loyalist. The natural rivalry between Washington and Dallas fueled his annoyance, especially as he started to view the Cowboys’ widespread support as overblown. “It’s just the same thing every year with them. They have talent, they get hyped up, and then they don’t deliver,” Durant added.
The Role of Washington Pride
At the core of Durant’s growing distaste for the Cowboys was a deep sense of pride in his hometown. Durant, one of Washington’s most celebrated athletes, found himself more invested in his Commanders fandom as the years passed. He began to embrace the underdog mentality that Washington fans often carry, given their team’s struggles in recent decades.
“Being a Washington fan means you stick with your team, no matter what,” Durant said. “We’ve had some rough years, but there’s a loyalty to it. You just don’t jump ship to another team, especially not the Cowboys.”
Durant’s connection to the Washington area runs deep. Even as he played for NBA teams across the country, from Oklahoma City to Brooklyn, Durant’s support for the Commanders never wavered. That loyalty only intensified as he became more involved in the Washington sports community, often speaking out in support of his team on social media.
Cowboys Fan Disappointment
Durant also mentioned his personal interactions with Cowboys fans as a factor in his dislike for the team. “A lot of Cowboys fans I know are just bandwagon fans. They don’t even really care about the team until they start winning,” he said. “That kind of fake loyalty doesn’t sit right with me.”
The disappointment of seeing fans show up when things were going well but disappear when the team struggled contributed to Durant’s disdain. For him, loyalty is key, and he felt Cowboys fans often lacked the genuine passion he associates with being a true fan.
Kevin Durant’s hatred for the Dallas Cowboys didn’t emerge overnight. It’s a mix of Washington pride, frustration with fan hype, and a growing loyalty to his hometown team that has fueled this feeling. As one of the most vocal Commanders supporters, Durant’s strong stance against the Cowboys adds another layer to the fierce rivalry between the two franchises.
While Durant’s NBA career continues to thrive, his allegiance to Washington remains as strong as ever. And with the Cowboys continuing to be one of the most polarizing teams in the NFL, Durant’s disdain for Dallas isn’t likely to fade anytime soon. As he put it, “I can’t ever root for the Cowboys. It’s just not in me.”
