Rock Guitarist Sues Thunder's Kevin Durant Over Nickname 'Durantula'

A guitarist popular in the 1980s has filed a federal lawsuit against Kevin Durant, demanding the popular Oklahoma City Thunder forward stop using a nickname he claims belongs to him.

According to entertainment website TMZ, Mark Durante played guitar with Public Enemy, The Aliens, and The Next Big Thing. In his lawsuit, Durante claimed he adopted the name "Durantula" for his onstage persona and used it to market his music and merchandise.

Durante said he registered the moniker as a trademark.

Thunder fans started calling Durant "Durantula" during his rapid rise to the top in the NBA. Durante said he sent letters to KD's representatives demanding they stop using the nickname, but Durant's camp denied he used it.

But in the lawsuit, Durante said Nike used the nickname in its shoe campaign, and KD himself signed "Durantula" on basketballs that are for sale on his website.

Durante is suing for damages and an injunction to stop Durant from using the name.