Durant in comfortable place after a season of adjustment
Unlike his superstar Warriors teammate in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant does not feel he is currently playing at his absolute peak. Reserve those years for when the Oklahoma City Thunder once cheered for Durant instead of booing him.
“Physically at 21, 22, 23, I could get out the bed and windmill or catch a lob,” Durant said after practice on Sunday. “Now I got to activate my glutes and hamstrings.”
Still, Durant enters the Warriors’ season opener against Houston on Tuesday at the Oracle saying his “swag level is through the roof” for reasons besides winning the 2017 NBA championship.
“Mentally when you feel like you’ve mastered the game from an individual standpoint, knowing what you want to do, that’s a great feeling,” Durant said. “I’ve hit the point where you know what’s important there on the basketball court. I’m at that point, especially playing with such a talented group of guys, they make you focus on other things besides yourself. That’s an underrated part of this team.”
It is not underrated to say Durant remains a key variable in the Warriors’ quest to repeat as NBA champions. Though he won the 2017 Finals MVP, Durant, Curry and Warriors coach Steve Kerr still saw a new and improved version as Durant averaged 17.3 points on 52.5 percent shooting preseason play.
“He looked so relaxed and confident,” Kerr said. “Last year, he was trying to decipher what we were doing. This year, he just did it. There’s a comfort level that exists now that allows him to go out there and play without thinking.”
SEASON OPENER Tuesday: Warriors vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Those instincts applied everywhere. Durant has become more familiar with the Bay Area and a fanbase he found welcoming. That familiarity extended toward Durant’s All-Star teammates.
“They’re making me more and more comfortable,” Durant said. “I’m a creature of habit. I have to see the same stuff every day in order to feel comfortable. I got to know you respect me. I respect you. I got to know that everyday. To walk in every day is making me more and more comfortable as the days go on.”
LOTS OF OPTIONS >> While most NBA teams are stuck with figuring out their starting lineup, Kerr enters the Warriors’ season opener against Houston on Tuesday at the Oracle deliberating how he will handle his bench rotation.
“I’m comfortable with putting any one of the 15 guys on the floor at any time,” Kerr said.
Kerr said he received “a little more clarity” during training camp to declare a few definitives. Warriors reserve forward Andre Igudoala and guard Shaun Livingston will keep their spot as usual after remaining dependable staples of the bench’s identity. Warriors forward David West will maintain his position as a backup center.
Other than that, everything seems up for grabs.
Kerr said the backup shooting guard spot is “sort of open,” which means Omri Casspi, Nick Young and Patrick McCaw might compete for minutes. Kerr said he “could see Damian Jones starting a game” if starting center Zaza Pachulia and reserve center JaVale McGee suffer an injury. Kerr sounded torn between Warriors rookie forward Jordan Bell and thirdyear forward Kevon Looney after liking both of their play in training camp.
That gives Kerr a nice problem. He considers the 2017-18 Warriors “the deepest” entering his fourth season as head coach.
“I don’t know how to play 14 guys,” Kerr said. “It’s going to be tough.”
NICE RING TO IT >> The real Slim Shady stood up. Kerr said he has worn his NBA championship rings only once, when he dressed up as rapper Eminem one time for Halloween during his NBA playing career.
Speaking of which, Kerr liked Eminem’s recent freestyle that criticized President Donald Trump.
“I could relate to him the other night when I saw him what he did. I loved that,” Kerr said. “I don’t have my own [rap]. He spoke for me.” INJURY UPDATE >> Kerr listed Livingston (sick) as probable and and Iguodala (back strain) as questionable to play on Tuesday after missing Sunday’s practice. Though Casspi participated in non-contact drills, Kerr considered him questionable after nursing a mildly sprained ankle in Friday’s exhibition against the Kings.
After missing that game because of differing ailments, Durant (virus) and Draymond Green (back strain) practiced on Sunday.