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Splash! Kevin Durant finalizes two-year deal with Warriors

It's still surreal to see Kevin Durant holding a Warriors jersey.

On the Warriors' pitch: "This group of guys, they came to see me and everything was real". Barkley, however, said truly great players were not judged by how many medals they won, but how they made teams better.

The Warriors held an introductory presser today for Kevin Durant on Thursday afternoon, opening him up to the media for the first time since his decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. He'll join two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, splash brother Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala on Golden State's loaded roster. Everyone was excited, the conversation was effortless.

Kerr joked,"Well, I haven't made the decision yet, but he might start", when Fitzgerald asked him about how the newest member of the Warriors could fit into the team's style. Even if they were arrogant, they backed it up in a splashy, intoxicating way. "Nothing in this league is easy, there's not shortcuts". His assists were down because he's the person that the players at Oklahoma City passed to. "I don't know anybody here, I've never lived in this community, I've never played for this team and I took a leap". He said he wanted to sleep on it. Durant's official decision was posted on The Players' Tribune around 11:30 a.m. "It's tough. We'd been teammates for so long".

He also said he has spoken to Russell Westbrook since announcing his decision, and their relationship is fine.

With the news that Kevin Durant spurned OKC for Golden State many OKC fans quickly rid themselves of any and all Durant gear. "I would love to go back in my day and just, 'Hey, let me call Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and let's just dominate the NBA.' But, like, there is some part of this that's really good competition".

"I understand the fans in Oklahoma City and basketball fans around the world are upset".

Speaking before the media for the first time as a member of the Warriors, the star forward discussed his hard decision to leave Oklahoma City, which he said was quite emotional. In a feature that provides an in-depth look into Durant's thought process, ESPN's Royce Young claims a source told him in February that "Durant leaving would only make Westbrook more resolute to stay".

Rightly or wrongly, Durant's decision will mark the official beginning of what comes next for Thunder basketball, and bid an abrupt end to what seemed to be a bright future.

We will have more on the Boston Celtics side of things from Wyc Grousbeck later tonight.

stayontheblack.com

Splash! Kevin Durant finalizes two-year deal with Warriors