Kevin Durant warriors overcame nerves back in Seattle

SEATTLE – As soon as he woke up from his pre-game nap, Warriors forward Kevin Durant had an experience he had never experienced in his 11-year career in the NBA. He began to feel worried.

"I was just nervous," Durant said. "I've never felt that way in a game, especially a pre-season game."

This was not any pre-season game, however. Of course, the final score indicated that the Warriors had managed to defeat the Sacramento Kings with a 122-94 victory. The Warriors (1-1) proved their superiority over the Kings (1-2), although the Stars (Stephen Curry) (personal reasons) and Draymond Green (sore left knee) stayed out. The meaning has become much deeper, however.

The reason: Durant would be coming back to Seattle for the first time since he played there as a rookie about 11 years ago. These fans would attend an NBA game at the Key Arena for the first time since the transfer of the old Sonics franchise to Oklahoma City after Durant's rookie season. When the Warriors and Kings announced the game in February, the tickets sold in less than four hours for an arena that seats 17,074.

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"That's what it's all about tonight," said Warrior coach Steve Kerr, who was wearing a Seattle Supersonics t-shirt. "Kevin represents the last season of the Sonics and hopefully the return someday no matter what happens."

Durant wanted to do everything special. His gestures. His speech His performance. All.

Durant received his wish. He finished with 26 points in the lead of the team, while he shot 10 times out of 19 and 2 out of 5 at the distance of 3 points. He added seven assists and six blocks. He has already won two NBA championships, two MVP finals and one MVP regular season. Durant even said his last performance was "pretty good" in his career.

"It was cool to come back in a different light as a veteran, champion and best player par excellence," Durant said. "It was cool to feel that love."

Before Durant felt this love, however, he felt uncomfortable. When the Warriors arrived on the Key Arena dock, Durant, 30, has mentally returned to the past to regain his 19-year-old personality.

"It's really a different feeling in the arena and in the ramp that I used to take," Durant said. "It brings back memories."

As soon as Durant entered the arena, he created more memories. Some of them have only fueled more adrenaline rush.

Fans shouted with approval when Durant arrived for the pre-game warm-ups with Sonic Green Nikes. During, he then showed what had partly won him the NBA rookie of the year award. He showed his precise footwork while sinking mid-range jumpers all over the field. Meanwhile, Sonics fans chanted Durant's name.

"It was a crazy feeling to go out and feel as much love from the fans," Durant said.

Durant continued to feel more love. Shortly after his pre-game routine, Durant saw a devoted follower of the Sonics behind the basket that he always recognized. His name is Big Lo, which Durant called a "real fan". Durant still remembers Big Lo 'since meeting with the Sonics at the airport and at community events. Therefore, Durant gave him a hug.

"He told me that he missed me, that he loved me and that I am one of the greatest of all time!" Durant said. So Durant responded with his own feelings. "That's what I feel for you," Durant told Big Lo. "You are a true basketball fan and a true basketball junkie. I appreciate that.

Durant then expressed gratitude for more Sonics fans sitting near the tunnel entrance.

He went there and signed autographs for all kinds of memories. T-shirts Sonics and Warriors. Durant jerseys with both Seattle and Golden State. Basketballs. He continued to sign all these articles. Durant then posed for photos and had a little chat with the fans. One of them informed Durant that he was a 16-year-old who had attended Sonics games in his rookie season. The fan added, "I miss you guy! You better take this peat!

Kevin Durant catches up with a long time fan of Sonics pic.twitter.com/xjs2nXvorL

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Moments later, Durant then kissed Spencer Hawes, a former NBA player and longtime friend, who played Durant in the AAU circuit and often spent time with him in Seattle during his rookie season.

After catching up, Hawes gave Durant some advice about the next game.

"It will be noisy," Hawes told Durant. "Be ready for that."

It's become a euphemism. During each gesture and movement that he did, Durant heard a welcome roar.

When the composition was introduced, the arena dashboard showed the highlights of Durant's rookie season with the Sonics. Then, when the announcer of the Palestinian Authority pronounced his name during the presentation of the composition, Durant walked on the ground and took off his clothes. He wore a Shawn Kemp jersey on his warrior uniform.

"It was great, it brought shivers," said Kerr, "The crowd was going crazy."

Just like Durant, who had contacted Mitchell & Ness for a Sonics booster jersey earlier in the week. He then kept the plan secret even from his teammates. Once everyone saw the gesture, Durant spoke to the crowd. In the presence of WNBA star Sue Bird, Durant credited the Seattle Storm with winning the WNBA championship. He then thanked the Seattle fans and expressed his sympathy for being deprived of an NBA team over the past 10 years. Durant then offered hope that an NBA team would come back soon.

"To honor one of the previous game legends, a Sonic legend was pretty cool. Addressing the crowd and hearing it so loud and enthusiastic about playing basketball was breathtaking, "Durant said. "I'm not a big fan of surprises and all that stuff. But I thought it would be cool if I respected one of the legends of the past. I thought fans would enjoy it and they did it. I'm glad it's happening like this. It worked well.

It worked a little too well.

"It did not look like a preseason game," said Klay Thompson, guard of the saod Warriors, who scored 30 points on 10 out of 15 shots. "You could almost touch the energy with your hands. It was so much fun. "

It was also nerve-wracking. Durant twisted several times during the national anthem. As soon as Durant touched the ball, the fans cheered loudly. They were eagerly waiting for it to perform a highlighting. Durant spent three quarters of his first four goals in the first quarter.

"I did not feel like I was in the game until the second quarter," Durant said. "I'm used to playing games, playing and mingling with everyone on the field. I felt like everything at home was really weird. "

So Durant simply followed the advice that he said that he would have given himself. The return: "Enjoy the moment. Stop thinking too much and go have fun. "

So, Durant was amused.

He drove for a basic dunk. He swung a deep 3 points. He sank a pull-up. He made a cross before making another pull-up.

He closed the first period with a two-handed dunk in transition. He opened the second half with a right handed dunk hammer. He converted to a bank note. He launched a lob in Damian Jones' center that Kerr called "the game play".

So, once Durant came on the bench with 3:54 to go in the third quarter, Durant greeted the merry crowd who encouraged him for a job well done.

"What's great with Kevin, is even a night like that.You think he's not on the list tonight, you look at the stats sheet, he's 26 points, "said Kerr. "He always finds a way to do it."

Durant has found the right time to go.

For a city whose franchise left for Oklahoma City, Durant calmed down some frustrations with a show. In turn, these fans welcomed him as a close friend who was simply absent from the city for a while.