Kevin Durant sued by ’80s guitarist for use of ‘Durantula’ nickname
When Kevin Durant was emerging as one of the best players in the NBA, many people felt like he needed a nickname. It looks like the people who officially decided that “Durantula” would be his nickname picked a bad one.
According to TMZ, Durant was sued in Federal Court on Tuesday by a musician who claims that is his nickname. Mark Durante, a guitarist who played with Public Enemy (unrelated to the hip-hop group), The Aliens, The Next Big Thing, and other bands, says he used the Durantula nickname and has trademark rights to it.
The lawsuit reportedly says Durante adopted the name “Durantula” for his “on-stage and performance persona” — and has since used it to market “music, recordings, apparel, t-shirts, guitars, and related merchandise.”
Durant’s reps reportedly claimed they’re not using the nickname, but Durante says otherwise. He claims Nike used it for a T-shirt, and that Durant is selling autographed balls on his website with that nickname.
If this isn’t the dumbest lawsuit ever, then it’s close. If KD had just listened to our nickname suggestion, he wouldn’t be in trouble.
(Artwork above comes via the good work of Ball Don’t Lie)
