(image via Warriors.com)
OAKLAND — Moments before he took center stage at his introductory press conference, Kevin Durant told Steve Kerr he was a little bit nervous. This was a big moment. The first words he said after such a big decision were going to be attached to his name forever.
As a new chapter starts in Durant’s life and in Warriors franchise history, here’s a look at some of the gleaming takeaways from a memorable Thursday at the Oakland Marriott.
- Happiness factored into this decision as much as winning
Boiled down to its very core, this decision was about which people Durant wants to surround himself with. Andre Iguodala’s sarcastic humor makes Durant laugh. Ravaging the league with the more selfless Steph Curry sounds much more appealing than the uncertainty that is Russell Westbrook — although KD downplayed the chronicled on-court rift. Nobody recruited KD harder than Draymond Green, who sat near the media, perked up in his chair.
Durant was pampered in Oklahoma City. He will be more admired in Golden State, and that jives with his personality more. Durant used the word enjoy several times in the presser. That was by design and not an accident.
“I could tell they enjoyed being around each other.”
“I’m just trying to grow and get better and enjoy playing the game.”
“I just want to enjoy every single day of it.”
2. Steph Curry’s blessing was necessary for this to happen
In a side interview with KNBR.com, Bob Myers said the very first question the front office asked when exploring the possibility of adding Durant was about Curry. Would he really want another MVP in the fold? It’s a tougher proposition than people think. As humble as he is off the court, Curry is flat out arrogant on it. There was some slight hesitation as to what his reaction would be.
“If you don’t know Steph you would assume, maybe he wouldn’t be okay with this,” Myers said. “But if you know him like we do, you know he would want Durant.”
Myers said he didn’t think Curry would go to any other meeting for any other player — but No. 30 has that much respect for No. 35, he felt compelled to join everybody else. Obviously, it would have been a bad look if the MVP wasn’t there in person. Curry wanted to reassure Durant of his feelings and sent a lengthy text message after the Friday meeting. Steph is cool with sharing shots and the mantle for the team’s best player. The Warriors needed to hear that and so did Durant.
“You look at Steph and you know he’s real,” Myers said. “And Kevin kept referring to that. To know that Steph was not only okay, but was a big fan of it. A big supporter of it.”
Curry was tested right away in the meeting, too. Durant’s people wanted to hear the point guard’s commitment to KD.
“We didn’t even get to exchange any pleasantries,” the GM recalled, “before Kevin’s agent said, ‘Why do you guys want Kevin? And I want to hear from the players.’ And he looked right at Steph.”
Myers clenched his jaw a bit, wondering how his easy-going MVP would respond. Like it was a three-pointer at the top of the key, Curry quickly fired off his answer.
“I’m here,” Curry told Durant. “I want you.”
3. KD cried when he had to break the news to Oklahoma City but he’s not worried about being a villain
While the decision now looks like it was a slam dunk, Durant admitted he waffled back and forth on which team to choose, and truly had to sleep on it the night before Independence Day.
But he woke up with a clear mind at 7 a.m. on July 4th, crawled out of bed to find his family, friends and business associates still asleep. He immediately woke them all up.
“I want to go to the Warriors,” and his people collapsed on him with hugs.
One shoe had dropped but the other was still hanging. Durant prides himself on being classy. He knew he had to call the Thunder before word started leaking out.
“That call to Oklahoma City was the hardest thing to do I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Durant said. “Tears were shed, but this is, like I said, a new journey for me, testing the unknown, and I trusted it. I trusted my gut. I trusted my instincts. It’s the unpopular decision, but I can live with it.”
As for being known as a villain who created this evil super team?
“We live in this superhero comic book world where either you’re a villain or you’re a superhero if you’re in this position, and I know that, and I know I haven’t changed as a person,” Durant said. “I don’t treat people any differently because I made the decision to play basketball in another city. I understand the fans in Oklahoma City and basketball fans around the world are, I guess, upset, but like I said, I made the decision based upon what I wanted to do and how I felt, and it’s the best decision for me, so I can’t really control how you feel.”
4. Durant stayed after his press conference to hoist up some shots
Kevin Durant can't resist getting some extra shots up in the Warriors' facility as we speak … pic.twitter.com/OYGMsub64p
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 7, 2016
5. Myers and Joe Lacob let many details out of the bag about the recruitment process
It will be known as The Heist in the Hamptons. Read why the Warriors tossed out their original script and essentially winged it in during their presentation for Kevin Durant. What did Durant tell Bob Myers on the phone? And what was the big point Lacob reminded KD during the meeting.
Here’s our entire article with plenty of new details on how it all went down.
