KEVIN DURANT IN TOWN
More than a month removed from a second straight NBA title and back-to-back Finals Most Valuable Player awards, Golden State star Kevin Durant couldn’t help but hide his excitement for next season starting in October following the acquisition of free agent big man DeMarcus Cousins.
Durant, who is visiting Manila for the first time for his “Rise, Grind, Shine” tour for sportswear giant Nike, and Cousins had their share of on- court tussles last season when both players were ejected in a regular season game while the erstwhile free agent center played for New Orleans.
But the Golden State forward was quick to put the episode behind and expressed excitement over teaming up with Cousin this season when the Warriors gun for a third straight crown.
“On July 2nd, things kind of change for us by adding somebody like DeMarcus, who I’m very excited about working with,” Durant said.
“I think it’s going to be a fun year for us. We’re still not satisfied (with winning championships).”
Durant thinks the acquisition of Cousins, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, will “inject energy” to a franchise that has already won titles in three of the last four seasons.
The Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals and Durant said he is savoring every moment of that title run.
“It’s like a perfectly-created masterpiece that you work on throughout the season and I think we reached a different realm of success as a team,” said Durant.
While the attention of the league centered on LeBron James’ move to the Los Angeles Lakers at the start of free agency, the Warriors snapped up Cousins with little fanfare, adding a fifth All-Star to an already formidable Golden State lineup.
“We needed an injection of energy and I think DeMarcus is going to provide that for us,” said Durant.
“I don’t see how everybody else let him fall to us. But I guess we ruined it,” he jokingly added.