OKLAHOMA CITY – After watching the Memphis Grizzlies batter his Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener of the teams’ second-round series, Kendrick Perkins(notes) knew something needed to change. So he encouraged Kevin Durant(notes) to gather the team together … and watch the game again.

Durant took Perkins’ suggestion and arranged for a players-only dinner at his house on Monday night. The team dined on a Thanksgiving-worthy spread prepared by Durant’s personal chef and watched every minute of OKC’s disheartening loss to the Grizzlies. The players stopped the video at times to discuss specific breakdowns. By the end of the evening, they were in agreement on what needed to be done to improve.

They must have been right, too. Twenty-four hours later, the Thunder walked off the court at Oklahoma City Arena with a series-evening 111-102 victory. At least a few of the Thunder thought the seeds for the victory were planted at their clear-the-air, players-only meeting, the team’s first of the season.

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Thunder forward Kevin Durant is a humble superstar. From making sure photographers are OK after courtside crashes to signing autograph after autograph, Durant has always remembered his mother’s sage advice: “It didn’t have to be you.”

Layne Murdoch sat camped under the basket, on the cusp of capturing a potentially picture-perfect portrait. He steadied his lens as the three-on-two fast break crept closer to him. He held his position even when the action became too close for comfort.

Suddenly, Kevin Durant slammed into him, the contact from two Charlotte Bobcats defenders sending him crashing to the floor following a reverse layup attempt.

Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar, banged his head at the end of the play. Murdoch was knocked over on impact. Durant rolled around in pain while rubbing the back of his head. Yet, with his noggin throbbing, and his team nursing a tenuous one-point lead in the second half, Durant still had the presence of mind to turn his attention to the well-being of someone else, something more significant than the scoreboard.

He asked Murdoch if he was all right.

“It kind of cracked me up because I was really concerned about him,” Murdoch said. “I was like, ‘Yeah I’m OK. Are you OK?’”

Murdoch is the NBA’s team photographer for the Thunder. In his 31 years of taking NBA photos, he’s been barreled over by everyone from Hakeem Olajuwon to Karl Malone. The Mailman actually sat on Murdoch with no regard while arguing a call with a referee. And Murdoch’s seen much worse, like the infamous image of Dennis Rodman kicking a cameraman in the groin following a crash in Minnesota — and then laughing about it.

But after his collision with Durant, Murdoch joined a rapidly growing group that has experienced the kindness of Kevin Durant. It’s a trait that Durant displays daily, but one that runs deeper than anything fans see on television.

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The superstar’s dad could’ve quit his job the day his son declared for the NBA Draft, could’ve handed in his badge and his gun when his kid signed that first contract, could’ve punched his last time card when his boy snagged that massive contract extension.

Kevin Durant’s father, Wayne Pratt, right, still works as a federal police officer in Washington.

Instead, Wayne Pratt is taking vacation days to see his son make his first start in the All-Star Game.

Ever wonder why Kevin Durant is a humble superstar?

Look no further than the superstar’s dad.

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