The sacrifices she made for Durant and his brother led to a Lifetime movie about her journey as a single parent, "The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story."

Today, the NBA superstar's mom travels the country as a motivational speaker and philanthropist. On Monday, she spoke at Thomson Reuters' in New York about her personal struggles to achieve financial stability and shared with CNBC Make It the financial advice she gave her son when he entered the league.

"I wanted him to realize you have worked hard," she says, "and it is OK for you to enjoy yourself because of your hard work. But it is also imperative that you prepare for your future."

Now, Durant says she is more mindful of her money and the value it holds. She's also worked to teach her two sons about the value of money and it seems to be paying off.

Outside of basketball, Kevin has invested in the investing app Acorns, purchased a stake in the on-demand delivery service Postmates and also owns a stake in The Players' Tribune. Recently, he's teamed up with Laurene Powell Jobs for a new philanthropic venture called College Track and is aimed at helping disadvantaged kids attend college. As part of the initiative, Durant has committed to donating $10 million to his hometown's public school system.

Read the full article about Kevin Durant's philanthropy by Courtney Connley at CNBC.