Kevin Durant officially signs 2-year deal with Warriors
4-time scoring champion joins all-stars Curry, Thompson
Splash: Kevin Durant's big move to the Golden State Warriors is done.
The Warriors formally announced the signing of the six-time all-star on Thursday and introduced him with fanfare during a news conference at the team's downtown Oakland practice facility, where screens read, "WELCOME KD TO DUB NATION."
Durant said his meeting with the Warriors' brass last Friday in the Hamptons — a contingent that also included the Splash Brothers of MVP Stephen Curry and all-star Klay Thompson — had a "great vibe throughout the whole day."
Number 35. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DubNation?src=hash">#DubNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/QNJsibrN2I">pic.twitter.com/QNJsibrN2I</a>
—@warriors"It's been hectic," Durant said. "There's a lot of attention that comes with being in this position. I felt as comfortable as I ever felt. ... It was organic, it was authentic, it was real. It was a feeling I couldn't ignore. ... I'm just ready to play ball."
'He might start'
Durant, a four-time scoring champion, stepped onto the podium to big cheers.
"I haven't made the decision yet, but he might start," Warriors coach Steve Kerr joked, sitting next to a smiling Durant.
Durant announced his decision Monday in a story on "The Players' Tribune" website, andThursday 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 final before losing in seven games to Cleveland in the championship final — on a two-year contract worth more than $54 million US. 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 honoured you're here, I'm honoured you chose us."