Durant looks worse everytime he talks about his decision

[Little Digger]

Durant: “Yeah, when I called you guys, so many emotions were going through my head. I thought I was gonna drag that decision out for a long time. But when I talked to you guys that second time, it kinda eased my mind. I felt like this was the place where I should be.”

-Later, Durant was asked for a fuller explanation on why he picked the Warriors. He called it an ‘easy choice’: “It felt like it was a perfect fit. It was something I was searching for when I sat down and talked to these guys. I wanted to see if what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen on the outside is really true. Do these guys really genuinely love each other? They work together. You hear family a lot. That’s just a word sometimes, but this is really a lifestyle here. You can feel it when you walk in the door, in the practice facility, everybody is just together. That’s something that I can appreciate as a basketball player and someone who values relationships. You can tell that that’s what they stand on, that’s what we stand on. I feel really grateful to play for a team like that and play with a bunch of players who are selfless and enjoy the game in its purest form. They make it about the players, they make it about the environment, so it was really an easy choice.”

Kevin Durant on the free agency meeting: “I was anxious to see what they’re all about. You hear a lot of about them. They’e on SportsCenter every day. One thing stood out to me, I had a friend tell me — that never played basketball, not even athletic — the first thing she said was, ‘When I watch Steph Curry play, it makes me feel like I can play the game of basketball.’ So I asked her, ‘So how do I make you feel?’…That shows, like Andre said, when you play freely and have fun with the game, it just shows that it touches a lot of people that may not just be in that immediate circle of NBA or basketball or sports in general. So when they came into the meeting, I was really looking for that energy and I felt it from the beginning. It was just so pure. It was a feeling I couldn’t ignore. I wanted to be a part of it. No matter what happened, I wanted to be a part of it.”


http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/11/kevin-durant-joe-lacob-shed-more-light-on-durants-free-agency-decision/?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#link_time=1476197053

[jwise44]

You guys stole him away from Seattle..How can you now be so sensitive when he chooses to go to a better situation? I just dont get any of this KD hate...

How did you feel about lebron in 2010? And be honest with yourself

TBH I wasn't following basketball nearly as closely as I am now. I knew it happened, and I thought it was kind of cheap, but wasn't enough of a fan to feel much more than that about it.

Didn't really get hardcore into the NBA till I graduated college.

I was talking to little digger

I think he pulled a **** move and it sucks hard cause I loved him before that

Same thing with lebron in 2010

[Bergmaniac]

It is his career, if he wants to go to any team for whatever reason, that's cool in my book.

But saying that he begged his agent to "allow" him that move is still pretty silly.

[Andre Roberstan]

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yasssssss king

[510TWSS]

Don't worry about it, I would say.

The article that SFHand cited is from the San Jose Mercury News, which is a paper in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area that covers the Warriors. You would expect the paper, and fans of the Warriors, to present "their" side of the story this way. Like propaganda or something. To present Durant in a sympathetic light rather than in a negative light.

Remember, I think it was, that Durant was supposedly concerned with being a villain if he went to the Warriors. This apparently was very much on his mind when he met with the Warriors before committing to them.

So, if that is the case, and seeing as how Durant has apparently been booed in arenas several times since he made his choice, you would imagine that people who were there listening to Durant's concerns during the pitch meetings would try to help Durant out seeing as how he's being booed recently.

The Warriors (management, players) have to do and say this stuff. It's their obligation to the guy they convinced to sign with them. So they call up a reporter or see a reporter at the Warriors complex and the "hey, let's shed some more light on what REALLY happened when Kevin made his decision" stuff comes out.

I wouldn't sweat it. If non-Warriors NBA fans believed this stuff, my guess is they wouldn't be booing Durant at arenas outside of Oakland.

I don't think the fan reaction was a factor in his decision. He's said repeatedly he's liked GSW from the outside previous to his decision. On the ESPN pods a couple of reporters noted there was interest from KD that winter.

He was never concerned about being portrayed as a villain. From all that I gather, play style and chemistry factored heavily.

And let's not be naive he was thinking about the Warriors probably all year. But of course he can't say that. And no, I don't think that had any bearing on the WCF outcome. Dray and KD both confirmed they never texted during the series (I guess take that with a grain of salt too, but you're never gonna get 100% truth).

well, if he doesn't care it sure isn't playing out that way. too many post-decision rationalizations and damage control statements. i mean ,,,why is anyone(and him) from gsw even rehashing this??? seems like every week we're getting that he always wanted to go to now iggy's ridiculous statement, or something.

i'll bet too that kd's marketability image has taken a big it

It's the start of the season, more media coverage is starting to ramp up with the beginning of the season. That's why more stories are coming out now. The Andre and KD comments were taken from the ENCORE 2016 awards, a closed media event (which is probably why they were more verbose) but Anthony Slater was there able to transcribe the Q&A. What was quoted was their answers to the audience, not to a reporter.

[NW]

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yasssssss king

This would usually be the point to criticize certain sensitivities that people are having, but forget that. Can we make it Feb. 11 NOW please?!?!? This game must happen immediately!

[Impuniti]

Apparently it did when they faced the Cavs. Regardless of how he plays, his presence brings a lot to the Warriors.

That doesn't make any sense since the situations aren't the same.

Yup, it was not. Because OKC was ahead and Warriors was not when they were playing the cavs. OKC was in a better position to closeout the Warriors and it would've helped if Green was suspended for at least a game.

Last reply since this thread's not about this topic.

Your post still makes zero sense. It doesn't matter whether he gets suspended because they lost that game anyways and Green was the worst player on the court throughout the entire game, from both teams. Maybe ease off the mental gymnastics to try to prove a point once it's addressed why it's not a reasonable argument.

if I recall, he tried to trip an okc player the following game too. He should've been suspended for that too.

That would have been a laughable suspension. If you suspend guys for that kind of activity, you may as well start throwing out suspensions left and right for players.

[bondom34]

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yasssssss king

He's handled this remarkably well.

[510TWSS]

To me the one thing that'll be interesting is when KD and Russ have their first face to face. I'm not sure exactly how he notified Russ but from all the interviews sounds like they have bridges to mend.

That's putting it mildly. From everything we've heard (including Woj's interview with Perk) they haven't spoken since the decision and KD notified Russ by text if at all. And I've heard from multiple sources (insert Broussard meme here) that he was pretty hurt over some of the stuff that got leaked through Durant's camp to the media.

I think we're going to see another KG/Ray Allen situation.

Or Shaq and Kobe Christmas day 04'. Heh

[davidfr94]

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yasssssss king

He's handled this remarkably well.

Yeah really well, it is refreshing to see a player act like a smart and fun humain being especially on those kind of subjects.

I just hope for a gsw okc matchup in the first round.

[Statlanta]

Or Shaq and Kobe Christmas day 04'. Heh

More like Kobe, Dwight where a Steve Blake(Andre Roberson) hits a game winner in one of the meetings

[nbafan38]

Think the Thunder will be playing with a chip this year, Durant without even meaning to I think continues to insult them, for example calling the decision easy. Watching westbrook play this year will be fun.

[azwfan]

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yasssssss king

Nice answer GOATbrook! Can't wait to see that selfish ***** against my dubs this year. [/green font]

Honestly though. When your girl dumps you, anything she says positively about her new dude is gonna be taken as a slight (intended or not).

[nbafan38]

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yasssssss king

Nice answer GOATbrook! Can't wait to see that selfish ***** against my dubs this year. [/green font]

Honestly though. When your girl dumps you, anything she says positively about her new dude is gonna be taken as a slight (intended or not).

True just leaving is a slight in of itself but durant is making comments without probably even meaning to that are coming up as incredibly insulting. He can do it and he has a right to do what he wants but expect extreme backlash when he returns to OKC.

[Patches Perry]

I think to bring this full circle, the title of the thread is aptly named. Probably time for KD to quiet down for awhile.

[Impuniti]

Think the Thunder will be playing with a chip this year, Durant without even meaning to I think continues to insult them, for example calling the decision easy. Watching westbrook play this year will be fun.

Watching him play is fun every year.

[StepBackCrack]

This is the impression I get also. And honestly, that's all well and good. It just handicaps him severely in all-time discussions. He was a guy with potential to be a top 3 small forward ever (behind Bird and LeBron), and taking the easy route to chill, play ball and make money pushes him out of the top 5 SF discussions. As I've said in the past, maybe he doesn't care about that. I don't think he is a bad person by any stretch. Just a supremely talented basketball player with a personality that maybe doesn't fit the profession he is in. These were things that people once said about LeBron, so maybe Durant will change his course, but LeBron was always the best player on his team and it was never really that close. Who knows when the next time Durant will be the best player on his team will be.

lol at implying that he isn't capable of looking the best on his new team. I bet you wish him the worst with GSW but that's not gonna happen if he is healthy. He can fit perfectly there so we have to wait and see what happens. And btw, he is the greatest player on GSW's roaster (because he has been an elite player for a significantly longer period than Steph). Durant is blessed with height/athleticism that Steph doesn't have so his impact can be great on both ends in GSW. His combo of skill, height and athleticism makes him the most gifted player on Golden State for sure. So yeah, his potential is pretty high in GSW. In any case, I don't care about who will be the "alpha dog" on the team because I'm pretty sure none on GS cares about that crap. It's not in their culture which is great. They are all very unselfish players who play the right way and that what makes them very likable as a team. Durant clearly had enough with playing ISO ball with Russ in OKC and finally he will have more fun on court playing great team basketball in a much better system. It's a new great experience for him and he will never regret his choice.

There is no argument for Durant over Curry right now. They're roughly the same age. Curry is coming off of back to back MVPs and statistically dominant seasons, both in which his team was the best in the league. Durant joined Curry's team and not vice versa. Curry is coming off of beating Durant's team in the playoffs. There really isn't a single thing to argue in Durant's favor that couldn't also be argued about Derrick Rose. Being better than Curry 3-4 years ago is not really relevant.

So Curry is greater overall than Durant just because he is better atm? If we go by your logic, Curry is overall already greater than Dirk just because he is better now. That's a silly argument. Durant and Curry are close overall in terms of greatness but there is no doubt Durant was an elite player for a significantly longer period and that matters when looking at an overall players' greatness. Steph achieved for sure and having a better team around him which required elite coaching (something OKC lacked so much over the years) and much better team chemistry helped for sure. Also had a better front office in GSW. OKC's front office can't be forgiven for the awful Harden trade.

In any case, you assume Durant can't be the best on this team (which is pretty expected from the ppl who hate him) but the future will disappoint you and you will see. Assuming good health, at worst he would be looked at as an equal to Steph. At worst. Bookmark this post if you want.

[IggyStardust]

I disagree completely, as a fellow pride-less cockroach understand and support his decision...

birds of a feather

[Patches Perry]

lol at implying that he isn't capable of looking the best on his new team. I bet you wish him the worst with GSW but that's not gonna happen if he is healthy. He can fit perfectly there so we have to wait and see what happens. And btw, he is the greatest player on GSW's roaster (because he has been an elite player for a significantly longer period than Steph). Durant is blessed with height/athleticism that Steph doesn't have so his impact can be great on both ends in GSW. His combo of skill, height and athleticism makes him the most gifted player on Golden State for sure. So yeah, his potential is pretty high in GSW. In any case, I don't care about who will be the "alpha dog" on the team because I'm pretty sure none on GS cares about that crap. It's not in their culture which is great. They are all very unselfish players who play the right way and that what makes them very likable as a team. Durant clearly had enough with playing ISO ball with Russ in OKC and finally he will have more fun on court playing great team basketball in a much better system. It's a new great experience for him and he will never regret his choice.

There is no argument for Durant over Curry right now. They're roughly the same age. Curry is coming off of back to back MVPs and statistically dominant seasons, both in which his team was the best in the league. Durant joined Curry's team and not vice versa. Curry is coming off of beating Durant's team in the playoffs. There really isn't a single thing to argue in Durant's favor that couldn't also be argued about Derrick Rose. Being better than Curry 3-4 years ago is not really relevant.

So Curry is greater overall than Durant just because he is better atm? If we go by your logic, Curry is overall already greater than Dirk just because he is better now. That's a silly argument. Durant and Curry are close overall in terms of greatness but there is no doubt Durant was an elite player for a significantly longer period and that matters when looking at an overall players' greatness. Steph achieved for sure and having a better team around him which required elite coaching (something OKC lacked so much over the years) and much better team chemistry helped for sure. Also had a better front office in GSW. OKC's front office can't be forgiven for the awful Harden trade.

In any case, you assume Durant can't be the best on this team (which is pretty expected from the ppl who hate him) but the future will disappoint you and you will see. Assuming good health, at worst he would be looked at as an equal to Steph. At worst. Bookmark this post if you want.

Yes, Curry is better than Durant at the moment because he is better at the moment. I don't see how that's controversial. Curry has reached a level Durant never has, even pre-foot injuries, and has sustained it through two MVP seasons. The Warriors are Curry's team and Durant joined Curry's team. Although they are built well, their success is driven by his unearthly abilities. What is even the argument for Durant over Curry again? Whether you factor individual success, team success, or some combination of both, Curry comes out on top. Durant is taller maybe?

[StepBackCrack]

There is no argument for Durant over Curry right now. They're roughly the same age. Curry is coming off of back to back MVPs and statistically dominant seasons, both in which his team was the best in the league. Durant joined Curry's team and not vice versa. Curry is coming off of beating Durant's team in the playoffs. There really isn't a single thing to argue in Durant's favor that couldn't also be argued about Derrick Rose. Being better than Curry 3-4 years ago is not really relevant.

So Curry is greater overall than Durant just because he is better atm? If we go by your logic, Curry is overall already greater than Dirk just because he is better now. That's a silly argument. Durant and Curry are close overall in terms of greatness but there is no doubt Durant was an elite player for a significantly longer period and that matters when looking at an overall players' greatness. Steph achieved for sure and having a better team around him which required elite coaching (something OKC lacked so much over the years) and much better team chemistry helped for sure. Also had a better front office in GSW. OKC's front office can't be forgiven for the awful Harden trade.

In any case, you assume Durant can't be the best on this team (which is pretty expected from the ppl who hate him) but the future will disappoint you and you will see. Assuming good health, at worst he would be looked at as an equal to Steph. At worst. Bookmark this post if you want.

Yes, Curry is better than Durant at the moment because he is better at the moment. I don't see how that's controversial. Curry has reached a level Durant never has, even pre-foot injuries, and has sustained it through two MVP seasons. The Warriors are Curry's team and Durant joined Curry's team. Although they are built well, their success is driven by his unearthly abilities. What is even the argument for Durant over Curry again? Whether you factor individual success, team success, or some combination of both, Curry comes out on top. Durant is taller maybe?

viewtopic.php?f=64&t=1465584&start=40#start_here
He has "no argument" yet winning this poll easily on a board that hates him.
Your hate for Durant is something else.