GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kevin Durant has suddenly become a White Sox fan. The Phoenix Suns star has been spotted multiple times wearing a Sox cap at press conferences. Now, he wants a City Connect Southside Sox jersey.
Seems easy enough. What number: 35 or 7 — the two numbers the future Hall of Famer has worn during his NBA career?
Neither. Durant wants a genuine Justin Dunn jersey, complete with name and number.
That’s where things get complicated.
Justin Dunn? The name doesn’t carry much weight yet with Sox fans.
Dunn is wearing No. 67 these days, the life of a 29-year-old non-roster invitee to Sox camp who’s here on a minor-league contract. The veteran right-hander, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022 because of shoulder issues, is far from a lock to make the team and get a better number for himself — and eventually Durant.
“That’s my brother’s teammate, my brother’s friend,” Dunn said of Durant. “I’ve spoken to him a couple of times. He’s an amazing person.”
Durant has become a fan of Dunn and the Sox because one of his Suns teammates is Ryan Dunn, Justin’s younger brother.
And Justin Dunn has become a Durant fan because the superstar has taken such good care of his little brother in Phoenix.
“That’s my brother’s teammate, my brother’s friend,” Dunn said. “I know how my brother speaks of him and I know he’s a great person and a great leader. Again, the first thing I said to him was, ‘Thank you for what you do for my brother because I’ve been in the locker room and you don’t have to do that.’ “
Durant was part of a special game for Justin on Wednesday, when he pitched two scoreless innings of relief against the Brewers in Maryvale. Durant and Ryan sat together in the stands.
“That was the first time my brother had seen me pitch in two years,” Dunn said. “He was on a journey when I was coming back and it felt like when he was getting his college offers is when the start of my shoulder problems happened. So to have him out here is pretty special. That’s my best friend in the world.
“I couldn’t be thankful enough that Kevin came. If that’s not a leader and a good person, I don’t know what is.”
Seven years separate the Dunn brothers.
Justin left home for boarding school, then college, before becoming a first-round pick of the Mets in 2016. He missed out on many of Ryan’s formative years — a key reason he loves Durant taking Ryan under his wing.
“Man, he grew up without a brother in the house,” Dunn said of Ryan. “He was alone a lot of the time. … A lot of our conversations were just on the phone. Even when he’s been on his journey, I haven’t been there to be with him every step of the way.”
Then when Justin was rehabbing his shoulder, the two got a chance to reconnect.
“My shoulder thing sucked but it was truly a blessing for me because in the hardest part of his life, the most important of his life,” Justin said. “I was able to be there and give him advice. It’s different sports but a lot of the tests are still the same. I was able to throw some advice and help him pass the test and he’s doing great.”
Ryan is a rookie with the Suns, averaging six points, and has a bright career ahead of him.
Justin has a steep hill to climb to make the Sox’ final roster. His agents held a pro day over the offseason and less than half of the teams attended. The Sox signed him to a minor-league deal.
He must prove his shoulder issues are in the past. Dunn has a 1.80 ERA in five innings of relief.
Manager Will Venable seems impressed.
“He’s pitched well,” Venable said. “The change-up is a real weapon for him. He’s continuing to work on throwing strikes and attacking the zone.”
So we know Durant has been to a Sox game. Has Justin been to a Suns game this spring training?
“A Suns game? Every game,” he said. “That’s my guy. I don’t miss my brother. For all he had to sacrifice for me to get to where I am today, any chance I get to support him I’m there. It helps when it’s 30 minutes away and the Suns are super welcoming organization and they do a great job of welcoming the family and making it easy for us to be around. I’m there whenever. It feels like I’m almost part of the team basically.”
As for getting the jersey for Durant …
“Well, he wants my jersey,” Justin said. “He wants it when I get there. Trust me, that was a surreal moment when I asked him, 35 or 7? Easy money or Durant? He said I want Dunn with whatever number you have. So we have to make that happen and, God-willing, we can make it happen pretty soon.”