Durant enjoys warm welcome
PHOENIX — Kevin Durant watched the Phoenix Suns from afar over the past few years, admiring the budding nucleus of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
Now he’s thrilled to be a part of it.
“We’ve got all the pieces to be successful,” Durant said.
The 13-time All-star was introduced Thursday on the floor at Footprint Arena in front of about 3,000 fans, who showed up in the middle of the afternoon just to hear the veteran forward answer a few questions.
Many were already wearing his No. 35 jersey, which has been a hot seller at the downtown fan store since GM James Jones pulled the blockbuster trade with the
Brooklyn Nets just before last week’s trade deadline.
Nearly every time Durant tried to speak on Thursday, he was interrupted by cheers from fans overjoyed by the biggest superstar arrival in Phoenix since the Suns traded for Charles Barkley in 1992.
The two-time Finals MVP soaked in the applause, but said he didn’t deserve it.
“I appreciate your warm welcome, but we’ve got work to do,” Durant said.
He later added: “I feel like I’ve still got to prove myself. I want to put good stuff on film every day. That’s the only thing I’m concerned with at this point in my life, is putting good stuff on film every night. I’m looking forward to doing that for Suns fans and hopefully they accept me after that.”
Cavaliers: Kevin Love’s long, winding run with Cleveland could be ending after nearly nine years. The five-time All-star forward has discussed the possibility of a contract buyout with the Cavs after being dropped from their rotation, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday. Love is in the final year of a $120 million, fouryear extension he signed in 2018.
Celtics: Boston named Joe Mazzulla its full-time head coach on Thursday, removing the interim tag he has held throughout the season after stepping in for Ime Udoka. Udoka initially was given a yearlong suspension before training camp for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization. The 34-year-old Mazzulla, an assistant under Udoka last season, will now replace his former boss, who will not return. Mazzulla is the NBA’S youngest head coach. Terms of his new deal were not immediately released, but the team said his promotion does include a contract extension.