OKLAHOMA CITY _ ESPN released a late Sunday night report claiming that the Warriors were "furious" and "bewildered" by the Thunder organization's treatment of Kevin Durant during his initial Oklahoma City homecoming, citing sources within the organization that felt "someone from (Thunder) ownership or management should have addressed the media on Durant's behalf to help ease the tension upon his return."
Speaking after Golden State's Monday morning shootaround in OKC, Steve Kerr disputed the report.
"I don't agree," Kerr said. "(Thunder GM) Sam Presti's a friend of mine. I know (Thunder owner) Clay Bennett. It's a class organization all the way, so I don't really pay any attention to a story like that unless there's an actual name that's put on it. I assume it's just sources. Is it 'sources'? I don't know who that is. It's nobody with the Warriors. We have great respect for them. Sam's been a friend of mine forever. They're first-class, so I don't know where that comes from."
Durant made the trip with the Warriors to OKC, but he remains sidelined with a left knee injury. He was seen after shootaround riding an exercise bike, but will not be made available to local media. It's unclear whether Durant will sit on the bench or remain back in the locker room during Monday night's game.
But once again, even without being on the court this time, Durant is at the center of this swirling NBA drama.
"This league is a very interesting place all the way through," Steph Curry said. "Certain stories that don't need to see the light of day, don't need to have any life breathed into them somehow are the most popular. That's kind of how it goes. To me, it's kind of comical what can be put in the spotlight during an 82-game year ... I actually look forward to waking up and seeing what ridiculousness is posted."
