Devin Durrant

Devin Durrant

American former professional basketball player, consensus college All-American, and author—known for an enduring BYU legacy and seasons in the NBA and Europe.

01 Intro

Devin George Durrant (born October 20, 1960, Brigham City, Utah) is a former professional basketball player. He was drafted 25th overall in the second round of the 1984 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, played for the Pacers and Phoenix Suns, and continued his career in Europe before retiring from play in 1988. Off the court he has worked in business, written on leadership and values, and served in volunteer leadership roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

02 Highlights

Durrant’s public story is anchored in rare consistency at BYU—he started every game of his collegiate career—and in recognition that followed: All-American honors, conference player of the year recognition, and a lasting place on the school’s all-time scoring list.

His professional arc spans the NBA and international leagues, then a long second act in business, writing, and community leadership—including induction into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

I

Provo Roots

McDonald’s All-American and state champion captain—where the streak of starts began.

II

Cougar Consistency

Every game of his college career from the opening tip—a rare run of reliability.

III

National Spotlight

27.9 points per game as a senior, third in the nation—second-team All-American honors from AP, NABC, and USBWA.

IV

Into College

Three NCAA tournaments, three WAC titles, 2,285 career points—third on BYU’s all-time scoring list.

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03 College

At Provo High School, Durrant was named a McDonald’s All-American and captained a state championship team. He attended Brigham Young University, where he started every game of his college career. He helped the Cougars to three NCAA tournament berths, three WAC championships, and a 79–38 overall record.

As a senior he averaged 27.9 points per game, third in the nation, and earned second-team All-American recognition from the AP, NABC, and USBWA. He graduated from BYU in 1984 with 2,285 career points (19.5 ppg) and was inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 1995. See his official BYU Cougars profile for the full collegiate record.

Before BYU

  • Captain of the Provo High team that went undefeated (26–0) and won the state 3A championship—he scored 38 of Provo’s 52 points in the title game, including 17 of 25 from the field
  • Voted MVP of the state tournament
  • Named to the McDonald’s 12-man All-America team
  • Adidas All-American
  • Second-team All-American (Basketball Weekly); BCI Classic All-American
  • MVP and one-on-one champion, Kentucky Derby Classic
  • Hertz Number One award for the state of Utah
  • In leading Provo to the title, averaged 31.5 points and 14 rebounds per game; also the state’s leading scorer
  • Coached by Jim Spencer

BYU Highlights

  • Holds BYU records for scoring average in a season (27.9), points in a season (866), free throws attempted in a season (307), and free throws made in a season (242)
  • Third on the all-time scoring list with 2,285 points and a career average of 19.5 ppg
  • Named Academic All-America (1st team), AP second-team All-America, UPI third-team All-America, and AP honorable mention
  • WAC Player of the Year (1982–83)
  • Academic All-America district seven and Academic All-America Second Team (CoSIDA), 1982–83
  • Unanimous All-WAC first team (1982–83)
  • Second-team All-America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association (1983–84)
  • Player of the Year, District 7, USBWA (1983–84)

After BYU

  • 23rd pick in the NBA draft; played with the Indiana Pacers and briefly with the Phoenix Suns
  • Professional basketball in Europe from 1986 to 1988

Personal

  • Served an LDS church mission to Spain–Madrid
  • Married to Julie Mink

04 Professional Career

Drafted by the Pacers, Durrant played in the NBA across the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, then continued professionally in Spain (including Santa Coloma and Guadalajara) and France, and with Olympique Antibes. After leaving professional basketball in 1988, he worked as a marketing director at WordPerfect Corporation, later ran a real estate investment firm, and earned an MBA from the University of Utah in 2009.

Basketball Highlights

High School State Championship Game

I

NBA

Indiana and Phoenix—63 NBA games, then a pivot to clubs across the Atlantic.

II

Europe

Spain and France, including Olympique Antibes—basketball as a passport.

III

New Arenas

WordPerfect, real estate, an MBA from Utah—building a career after the final buzzer.

IV

Recognition

Utah Sports Hall of Fame (2016), Sports Illustrated’s Utah list, and a lasting place in BYU lore.

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05 Beyond Basketball

Durrant has written books including Raising an All-American: Helping Your Child Succeed in Athletics and in Life, The Values Delta: A Small and Simple Way to Make a Positive Difference in Your Personal and Professional Life, and Becoming an All-American. His father, George Durrant, wrote A Dad, A Boy, and A Ball—a book about Devin’s childhood and the game they shared.

Profiles and interviews appear on Latter-day Profiles and across the Podcasts & Interviews and Articles sections.

He has served in many volunteer roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including full-time missionary service in Spain, president of the Texas Dallas Mission (2011–2014), and as a counselor in the Sunday School general presidency. See Church Service for details and video messages.

In 1999, Sports Illustrated named him one of the 50 greatest Utah sports figures; a Deseret News poll in 2000 ranked him among the top ten Utah college basketball players of the prior century.

06 Articles Written by Devin

Opinion pieces, Church magazine articles, and other writing on basketball, leadership, family, and faith—including a Deseret News author page.

07 Articles About Devin

Profiles, news coverage, and features on his basketball career, Church service, and writing.

08 Short Stories Honoring George Durrant

A tribute to George Durrant, whose life of faith, humor, and teaching continues to inspire the family: George’s ebook A Dad, A Boy, and A Ball about Devin’s childhood, and three brief video stories from Devin—each with a simple lesson about values. Those videos also appear on The Values Delta (the companion site to his book of the same name).

A Dad, A Boy, and A Ball

George Durrant’s ebook about Devin—father, son, and the bond they built through basketball.

Read the ebook (PDF)

09 Podcasts & Interviews

Conversations about basketball, leadership, faith, and The Values Delta—on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, SoundCloud, and more.

10 Church Service

According to his official Church biography, Brother Devin G. Durrant was serving as president of the Texas Dallas Mission when he was called as second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency; he was later sustained as first counselor and was released April 6, 2019. He has served as bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, counselor in a stake Sunday School presidency, high councilor, stake institute instructor, and stake mission president. As a young man he served a full-time mission in the Spain Madrid Mission. From 2011 to 2014 he was president of the Texas Dallas Mission. He earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from BYU and an MBA from the University of Utah. He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of six children and many grandchildren (not inputting the number here as it changes often).

Devin had the opportunity to speak at General Conference in 1984, 2015, and 2018.

Teaching in the Home—a Joyful and Sacred Responsibility

April 2018 · Saturday afternoon session

Parents are never released from teaching their children; the home is where we introduce them to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, help them pray, and walk the covenant path. Brother Durrant points to family home evening, family prayer, informal teaching moments, and scripture study as sacred chances to listen and testify. He closes by emphasizing example—how we love, obey, and cherish the temple teaches lessons that outlast any single lesson plan.

Read the talk · Watch on YouTube

My Heart Pondereth Them Continually

October 2015

He invites listeners to choose one verse of scripture each week, keep it in view, and revisit it through the day so truth is pondered deeply and gradually written on mind and heart. He ties the habit to Nephi, feasting on the word of Christ, and filling thought with light instead of the world’s noise. Over time, he promises, the practice deepens spirituality and lifts those we teach and love.

Read the talk · Watch on YouTube

Missions—Only You Can Decide

April 1984

Opening with a light referee story, he contrasts split-second calls on the court with slow, prayerful decisions—especially whether to serve a mission—and shares his own hesitation, his father’s faith to serve, and converts he knew in Spain. Others may advise, he stresses, but only the individual can choose to go. Love, faith, and worthiness matter as much as polish when we take the gospel to others.

Read the talk · Watch on YouTube

Music

I Love Jesus Christ

Devin wrote the lyrics; the pianist wrote the music.

Watch on YouTube

Addresses & Campus Speeches

11 Links & References