Kevin Durant reacts to Max Abmas game-winning shot

Sunday night was an electric one for Texas basketball, as guard Max Abmas hit a buzzer-beating shot as time expired for the Longhorns to defeat Louisville 81-80 in the Saatva Empire Classic.

Abmas was cold-blooded to close out the game, hitting a game-winner on one of the biggest stages across all of basketball at Madison Square.

His big shot in an NBA arena caught the attention of an NBA player, with former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant tuned in on Sunday night and reacting to Abmas’ game-winning shot via Twitter after the win.

MAX CALLED GAME @TexasMBB

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) November 19, 2023

“MAX CALLED GAME @TexasMBB,” Durant tweeted on Sunday.

Abmas ended the game with 14 points but did not have his strongest shooting performance, making just six of his 19 shot attempts and shooting 2-10 from behind the three-point line. He missed five consecutive shots for the Longhorns down the stretch, but never wavered, still having the confidence to take and make the biggest shot of the ball game when it mattered most.

Abmas transferred to Texas this offseason from Oral Roberts after spending the first four seasons of his college career with the Golden Eagles. After an accomplished career at ORU, he will be spending his final season of eligibility in Austin, with this year being his one and only as a Longhorn.

But if Durant taught us anything, it’s that a player can make a major impact in just one season with Texas, which Abrams is already on pace to do just four games in the white and burnt orange.

Max Abmas hits game-winning shot to lift Texas over Louisville

Texas survived and remains undefeated (4-0) on the season Sunday thanks to guard Max Abmas, who drained a game-winning jump shot as time expired in the Longhorns’ 81-80 win against Louisville in the Saatva Empire Classic.

He played a team-high 38 minutes on Sunday with his 13th and 14th points of the game coming on his game-winning shot, as he discussed what was going through his mind in the epic final moment after the game.

“I was just thinking go win,” Abmas said. “We had seven seconds left there, had enough time to take a couple dribbles and get to my spot and I knocked it down.”

MAX ABMAS IS COLD BLOODED.

His game winner gives #19 Texas the win over Louisville.
pic.twitter.com/1GbUBvYFHD

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 19, 2023

Abmas came from humble beginnings as an unranked high school prospect of out of Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, receiving only four offers out of high school.

He’s come a long way since then following a decorated career at ORU and a memorable moment in just his fourth game with Texas, with Abmas also opening up after the game about the impact of hitting a buzzer-beating shot in Madison Square Garden.

“Man it feels amazing. I mean as a kid you just dream of all this, being able to play in a big venue like this, and so for us to go out there and get the win I mean it’s just great,” Abmas said.