Kevin Durant receives warm welcome from Warriors
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Kevin Durant received a warm welcome from the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The All-Star addition means a lot of changes for the team.
The NBA superstar brought his father and younger brother, who will live with him. Together they came to the team's practice facility to meet the media, some season ticketholders, and Warriors brass as he became the newest member of Dub Nation.
Durant, a four-time scoring champion, stepped onto the podium to big cheers. He says it's a decision he made to step out of his comfort zone.
"It's easy to go back to something you're comfortable with and you know," he said. "But I think it's hard. It may seem like I took the easiest route, but I think this is the hardest route for me."
What convinced him was meeting with the Warriors stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala.
"It felt like they weren't in the NBA," said Durant. "It felt like they were guys just playing pickup every day and enjoyed playing pure basketball."
He especially wanted to talk with Steph.
"He's the face of the NBA," said Durant. "I wanted to see if he would really embrace me as a player and a person and I had no doubts that he would."
Coach Steve Kerr says it's a great fit and joked about how he'll use his new player.
"I haven't made the decision yet, but he might start," Kerr joked, sitting next to a smiling Durant.
Kerr added, "I'm blessed. I've already had great talent here my first two years. And now we add one of the best players in the league. So, I'm well aware how lucky I am."
Durant announced his decision Monday in a story on "The Players' Tribune," then Thursday marked the first day free agents could sign their deals. He joins the NBA runner-up Warriors - who rallied from 3-1 down to beat Durant's former Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals before losing the finals in seven games to Cleveland - on a two-year contract worth more than $54 million. There is a player option after the first year.
"You never expect to get this much better," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. "... I'm just excited to watch you play. I'm honored you're here, I'm honored you chose us."
VIDEO: Kevin Durant hangs out at Warriors practice facility ahead of introduction
Before the news conference Durant tossed around a couple of baskets. And though he says it's been a hectic two weeks, he seemed at ease.
He says Oklahoma City will always be a part of him, even as he makes the Bay Area his new home.
"I'm just excited to be here," said Durant with a smile.
Ahead of the Warriors news conference, Durant shirts were spotted at a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Fremont.
Store employees said it was just t-shirts with no jerseys at the time because those will roll out after the ink is dry on the contract and it's truly official.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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