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OAKLAND – While many spend their weekends in New York probing the fascinations evoked in songs like Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel and, more recently, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, the Warriors are present for more reasons relevant.
One, there are two basketball games to play.
And, secondly, they will be watching the New York speech closely before Kevin Durant.
One of the strongest and most persistent rumors campaigns around the NBA these days is questioning scenarios in which Durant would become a free agent next July and choose New York as the next destination. That's specifically going to the Knicks.
It's a plausible possibility, guys. In addition, New Yorkers are already doing their part to recruit the man who has been elected MVP of the last two finals of the NBA.
[[[[RELATED: The legend of the warriors wants KD to stay]A billboard featuring Kristaps Porzingis, the star actress of Durant and Knicks, climbed near Madison Square Garden on Thursday morning and will welcome the Warriors upon their arrival in the early evening. He asks a question: "Can you do much of the sport again in New York?" He adds hashtags: #easymoneysniper (a reference to Durant's Instagram account) and # KDNY2019. Durant holds the Larry O'Brien Trophy, with which he became familiar as a member of the Warriors.
It's not particularly smart, but it may not be necessary. In addition, reinforcements to this recruitment war will certainly follow.
So why would Durant think about going to the Knicks?
For starters, it's New York. Most athletes on earth dream of excelling on the biggest stage in America, and some need the attention and adulation that comes with representing the Yankees, Giants or Knicks.
Even though Durant is not eager to run after glory for glorification, part of it loves expeditions. Remember how he climbed BART shortly after arriving in the Bay Area? Went with a group of his teammates in a ping-pong bar?
Look, Durant grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, but given the choice of his colleges, he decided to attend the University of Texas. After a year in Austin, Durant was selected by SuperSonics and spent a year in Seattle before transferring the franchise to Oklahoma City.
[[[[RATTO: Durant should avoid the Knicks]He met six teams in the summer of 2016 before choosing the Warriors. He liked their recruiting speech, but he was convinced by the atmosphere. Durant felt most comfortable with the delegation that met him at The Hamptons.
Which brings us back to New York and the Knicks. Coach David Fizdale is, according to references, one of the most charismatic guys of all touch sports, in all American sports. He also knows hoops. A factor in his hiring is his ability to connect.
Durant's agent and business partner, Rich Kleiman, grew up in New York City and is an unconditional fan of the Knicks. He said he would like to be able to make decisions for the franchise. It may or may not matter, but it can not be rejected.
Still, the biggest attraction could be Durant's own curiosity. He left OKC partly because there was no more mystery, no more stones to return. He learned to know and appreciate the warrior culture. As he told me last year, this sounds like a place where you "pass" after experiencing other franchises.
This does not necessarily satisfy Durant's considerable curiosity.
Even though he never seriously considers New York, there is a part of him that will amaze him. How would he win there? Is it possible to go to one of the league's most troubled franchises, with a perpetually inept property, and be the centerpiece of a turnaround? How impressive would it be to do what most people can not do?
Durant does not need New York, but New York needs him. This could be a problem for warriors because they can not say that with similar conviction.
So it will be an intriguing weekend for Durant and for Knick fans like Spike Lee. While waiting impatiently.
"Being in New York, for example, is always a good place to be," he said late Wednesday night. "Playing Madison Square and Barclays (the home of the Brooklyn Nets), the energy is still amazing in these buildings."
There is no place like MSG. Even Michael Almighty Jordan, the Chicago saint, will not say that. So this weekend is, for the Warriors, not only a chance to win some easy victories, but also to take a look at what is coming next summer.
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