In 2012, NBA superstar Kevin Durant appeared as himself in what children's film?

In 2012, NBA superstar Kevin Durant appeared as himself in the children’s sports comedy Thunderstruck.

The film centers on Brian Newall, a teenager who idolizes Durant but struggles on the basketball court. After Brian makes a wish while touching a basketball, he mysteriously receives Durant’s extraordinary basketball ability. Durant, meanwhile, suddenly loses his own shooting talent, creating the film’s central body-swap-style comedy.

Durant plays a fictionalized version of himself rather than a named character. The story follows the two as they try to understand the magical exchange and restore their abilities. The cast also includes Taylor Gray as Brian, Brandon T. Jackson as Durant’s agent, Jim Belushi as a coach, and Doc Shaw.

Thunderstruck was directed by John Whitesell and released on August 24, 2012. It was Durant’s first major acting role and belongs to the family-friendly basketball-film tradition established by movies such as Like Mike and Space Jam. A common mix-up is confusing the film with the AC/DC song “Thunderstruck”; the title here refers to the movie about Durant and a young fan.