As I watched Kevin Durant burn down the entire city of Cleveland for the second straight NBA Finals, the lyrics from a song featured on Marvel’s “Black Panther” film rose up in my heart. You may be familiar with the tune? It’s entitled “Pray For Me” by Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd.
Here’s an excerpt from the glorious ode to the fury, and loneliness, of fighting enemies that are both external, and internal.
I’m always ready for a war again
Go down that road again
It’s all the same
I’m always ready to take a life again
You know I’ll ride again
It’s all the same (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Tell me who’s gon’ save me from myself
When this life is all I know
Tell me who’s gon’ save me from this hell
Without you, I’m all alone
I can’t help but imagine Kevin Durant, alone in the locker room, moments before last night’s 110-102 Game 3 victory, whispering these lyrics to a basketball he’s holding inches from his face.