Durant finds new form in Oakland

Outside of perhaps Scott Brooks, there is no coach in the NBA, assistant or head, who knows Kevin Durant as well as Rex Kalamian does.

So when Kalamian, now in his second year with the Toronto Raptors as Dwane Casey’s lead assistant, speaks about Durant, he does so with knowledge.

The two were together for six years in Oklahoma City and they still text semi-regularly.

With Casey under the weather Tuesday and battling a flu bug, Kalamian handled the post-practice media duties and was only too happy to talk about Durant, whom Toronto faced Wednesday in Oakland.

Durant had plenty of Kalamian’s attention as he went over game film of the Golden State Warriors, and he’s seeing a different Durant.

“The thing I see from Kevin Durant is he is attacking so much more in the open floor now. Whether he’s got the ball in his hands or off a rebound, he’s just pushing and flying up the floor,” Kalamian said. “Right when you think his game has peaked, all of a sudden he shows you another dimension.”

Durant was without question the windfall of the off-season. He was courted by various teams, but it was the chance to join one with immediate championship aspirations that won out.

And while no team would ever turn down the opportunity to add a unique talent like Durant, there’s also little doubt his arrival has brought with it challenges, too.

The Warriors were already at a championship level before his arrival and have retained the key pieces that made them such. Working in a guy who averages 19 shots a night, even a guy who makes almost 49 per cent of those attempts, is a process.

Stephen Curry, a player of equal stature, is taking about three shots a game less this year.

Finding that perfect balance where the team is operating at peak efficiency is still a moving target.

Durant was averaging a teambest 26.2 points a night along with 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists heading into Wednesday’s game. Yet it’s not all the way there yet.