OAKLAND, California – Oh yeah, Kevin Durant fully planned on putting up the initial shot for the US as he played his first game at Oracle Arena since joining the Golden State Warriors.
Kyrie Irving promised to get the ball in his hands to do so, too.
Cheered all night long by his basketball-crazed new fan base, Durant knocked down a 3-pointer on the Americans’ first touch and slammed home a dunk the very next time down the floor.
Then, another pretty one-handed jam just a few minutes after that. He scored the first 10 points for the United States.
What a performance for Golden State’s newest big star to help lead the US Olympic team past China, 107-57, on Tuesday night for a third dominant victory in as many exhibition games.
“It was amazing. The atmosphere was great, energy was great. The fans showed me major love, so I appreciate that,” he said. “It was good to get out there in front of them and play well.”
Durant, who finalized his two-year contract with the Warriors on July 8, scored all 13 of his points during a 13½-minute span of the first half while playing his first game at his new home, Oracle Arena.
He was the first American player back on the floor after halftime to get in some more shots, all while Warriors general manager Bob Myers stood close by along the sideline.
Booed in Los Angeles a couple days back, Durant received a far friendlier reception in the Bay Area he will now call home. He emerged for pregame warmups to huge roars. He departed the court before the game to a swarm of autograph hounds hanging over the railings in the tunnel – and kindly obliged. One person held a sign that read, “KD is not a Villain.”
“Certainly you wouldn’t want to be introduced after KD in line,” said coach Mike Krzyzewski, noting Durant’s big defensive strides. “The crowd, the welcoming for Kevin was fantastic. I know he appreciated it very much.”
Durant received a rousing standing ovation when introduced along with Warriors All-Stars Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
Also cheered was former Golden State forward Harrison Barnes, part of this past season’s runner-up team.