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Madison Booker jersey number, explained: How Kevin Durant inspired Texas star to wear No. 35 with Longhorns

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Madison Booker jersey number, explained: How Kevin Durant inspired Texas star to wear No. 35 with Longhorns originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Stop me if you've heard this before: a lanky, orange-clad No. 35 is ripping opposition defenses apart at Texas.

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This version of the archetype — Madison Booker — lends her services to the Longhorns' women's basketball team, not the men's side as was previously the case. Nevertheless, Booker's ability to score at all three levels — as well as her familiar frame — has Austin's acolytes feeling like it's 2006-07 all over again.

Kevin Durant left Texas in 2007, embarking on a historic NBA career after recording one of the greatest freshman seasons in men's college basketball history. Nearly two decades later, Booker has come to take his crown as the Longhorns' brightest supernova. Durant, the inspiration for Booker's current digs, believes she has a good chance of surpassing his legacy at their alma mater, too.

With that, here's what you need to know about Booker, Durant and the jersey number that binds the two together.

Why does Madison Booker wear No. 35? 

Booker sports No. 35, the same number that Durant rocked during his one-year stint on campus.

That's not a coincidence, either. Durant is Booker's favorite player. After all, she carries a similar build to the Suns standout — who became the first freshman to receive the Naismith Award back in 2007.

More than that, Booker fashioned much of her game after the Longhorns legend. Case in point: Booker's patented mid-range jumper. It looks eerily similar to the shot Durant has mastered throughout his glistening career.

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"My dad always taught me before you need to shoot a 3, you've got to shoot a midrange," Booker said last summer, per the Austin-American Statesman. "I always try to make sure I have a great midrange. Kevin Durant has a great midrange too, so I put two and two together."

Much like Durant, Booker has racked up a gaggle of accolades in fairly quick succession. The junior has not yet hoisted a Naismith Award (yet). But she earned a share of the Big 12 Player of the Year Award in 2024 and captured the SEC Player of the Year Award outright in 2025. She's also garnered All-American nods among a host of publications, including this one (twice). With one more year of eligibility left, there's plenty of reason to believe Booker could claim even more prizes in the future. Durant certainly seems to think so, citing her versatility — Booker filled in at point guard when star guard Rori Harmon went down with injury in 2023-24 — as evidence the best is still on the horizon for the Longhorns star

"She had an incredible season. Our point guard went out early this year so she had to step up and assume a different role, playing a point-forward," Durant said last March. "Future is bright. As a freshman, she's got so much more to do, but she's already staking claim in this league right now and she's going to be even better as she moves forward."

Just three men's players and two women's players have seen their jerseys retired at Texas. Durant is one of them; his kit was lifted to the Moody Center rafters in 2009. He expects Booker to receive similar treatment once her college career comes to a close, too.

"She's gonna have that thing retired on the other side," Durant said when asked if Booker was representing his number in an honorable manner.

Durant has continued to give Booker her flowers throughout her Longhorn career. In 2026, he announced an NIL program with the Longhorns' women's team. Booker became the first athlete to receive access to Durant's PEs, apparel and more as a result of the agreement.

"It means a lot to be a Nike athlete," Booker said, per Texas' website. "Honestly, it's a blessing. I think that's also part of why I came to UT – the opportunities here are amazing." 

Madison Booker vs. Kevin Durant stats

Booker and Durant aren't exactly the same player. But they do carry a few overlapping traits, spearheaded by their scoring prowess. Durant is one of the sport's greatest-ever scorers. Booker, while not showcasing quite the same scoring output, does project to be able to score in a variety of ways at both the collegiate and professional levels.

With that, here's a look at how Booker and Durant's college numbers compare to one another.

Madison Booker, 2023-26Kevin Durant, 2006-07112Games3517.4Points25.86.1Rebounds11.13.8Assists1.31.8Steals1.90.5Blocks1.92.4Turnovers2.831.5Minutes35.948.2Field goal %47.333.83-point %40.485.1Free throw %81.6

Durant's scoring numbers eclipse Booker's by a pretty wide margin, as does his rebounding. But his play-making lags way behind Booker, who's proven herself to be a gifted passer throughout her still burgeoning career. 

Durant also logged nearly five more minutes of play time per game than Booker, an impressive total, but also one that puts Booker's numbers in perspective.

The duo's efficiency figures are nearly identical, with Durant holding a slight advantage in field goal percentage and a higher mark in three-point shooting, but Booker hitting more of her free throws.

There's also the case of team success. Whereas Durant's Texas side received a meager No. 4 seed ranking and was summarily bounced in the second round of the tournament, Booker's side is on the brink of a national championship game appearance.

So, which Longhorn star wins out? I guess that's for you to decide.

Is Madison Booker related to Devin Booker?

The Booker name has taken on increased significance in the world of basketball in recent seasons. Booker is one in a series of players to achieve success with her last name, led by Phoenix guard Devin Booker.

So, are the Bookers related? Well, not exactly.

You see, both Madison and Devin Booker share some roots — both spent large parts of their childhood in Mississippi.

But those links are purely coincidental. Madison Booker is not related to Devin Booker.

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