Kevin Durant Shows Love for Wale’s New Album in Post-Game Interview

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant used his post-game availability to deliver an unexpected tribute to fellow DMV native Wale, whose new album everything is a lot. marks the rapper’s eighth album release. 

When a reporter asked Durant what it meant to see Wale reach another milestone — and why he remains such a devoted fan — the former MVP lit up. “I love that question,” he said, launching into an answer that doubled as praise for Wale’s longevity and a reflection on their shared roots.

Durant said he spoke to Wale “the other day,” referring to him as “Ralph,” a familiarity that signaled just how far back their relationship goes. For Durant, their bond predates arenas and major-label rollouts. 

They are products of the same D.C.–Maryland–Virginia landscape, a place Durant described as built on ambition, craft, and the pressure to outwork circumstances. That history shaped the way he sees Wale’s new chapter. 

“To see people in this industry — we’re all in the entertainment business, I feel, sports, music, movies, and all that stuff — to see people still have that energy to work on their craft every day. That’s who Wale is: he’s a craftsman,” Durant said.

Kevin Durant Loves Wale’s New Album ‘Everything Is A Lot’

That word — craftsman — echoed throughout his answer. Durant connected Wale’s creative discipline to the same repetition and refinement that define NBA greatness. 

Just as Durant evolves season after season, he sees Wale pushing his pen, sharpening ideas, and production. The eighth project was released on November 14 through Def Jam after a four-year hiatus.

The album dives into mental health, strained relationships, and the weight of fame. Tracks like “Blanco” confront alcoholism, while “Where to Start” flips SWV’s “I’m So Into You” into a meditation on growth. With production from Salaam Remi, Kel-P Vibes, BNYX, and others. 

The album’s collaborations span R&B, hip-hop, and Afrobeats. Wale builds a textured, globally informed sound still anchored in the DMV.

Durant called him “another OG out here in the game setting the tone.” The nod to Wale’s staying power in an industry quick to discard its veterans. He ended with the simplest sentiment: “I’m just grateful to know him.” 

For Durant, the album is more than a release — it’s a testament to endurance, evolution, and the culture that raised them both.