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A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 14 June 2017

Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant look to build a Warriors dynasty

JANIE McCAULEY “I mean, come on, you got
AP Sports Writer a bunch of guys who are
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — talented and can shoot
Stephen Curry tucked a and pass and dribble, and
celebratory cigar into his they’re unselfish,” Kerr said.
right sock for safekeep- “There was never any ques-
ing as he handled all of his tion in my mind that this
post-championship obliga- was going to work. So, this
tions. is the culmination of a year
He was still wearing his where they grew together
sweaty uniform, ankle brac- and learned each other’s
es, kneepads and game games and got better and
shoes but, oh, there would better all year, and it was
be more partying. Perhaps just phenomenal to be part
all summer long. of.”
And if he and the rest of the One moment late Monday
Warriors have their way, for captured the camaraderie
years to come. that evolved. As a grinning
Curry, Kevin Durant and Curry held daughter Riley in
their teammates are deter- his arms, Durant stood next
mined to build a dynasty to them with his left hand
together — and they might on the point guard’s head.
just be well on their way. Later, the two-time reigning
LeBron James believes so. Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, from left, guard Stephen Curry and forward Kevin MVP took off his new NBA
Durant celebrate after Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oak-
Two titles in three years for land, Calif., Monday, June 12, 2017. The Warriors won 129-120 to win the NBA championship. champions hat and stud-
Golden State. A fabulous Associated Press ied it briefly before pulling it
first one with and for Du- one was a comeback from ager Bob Myers also was to win, it doesn’t matter. on again, backward.
rant. a heartbreaking missed op- moved to tears given Kerr’s It’s not about who scored Curry had Durant to com-
“We’re obviously just get- portunity last year against courageous Finals come- what. It’s about winning. I plement his game this time,
ting started,” Curry said af- James and the Cavaliers back from an 11-game ab- think he knew that. He won to take some pressure off.
ter closing out Cleveland in when the Warriors knew sence while dealing with a championship, and then They learned from each
Monday night’s NBA Finals they should have won it all complications from back we were close and didn’t other every step of the
Game 5. “This is something but squandered a 3-1 lead. surgery following the 2015 win one. So you have a way, they pushed one an-
that we want to continue As a raucous crowd title run. clear sense of what matters other through fierce shoot-
to do, but for us to have cheered at Oracle Are- Kerr still found time to crack when you go through that ing competitions that were
these conversations that na, Curry watched freshly a joke on the stage after- stuff.” pure entertainment on a
we had almost a year ago crowned Finals MVP Du- ward: “Well, we had very Now, the Warriors will face practice floor.
and now being in this posi- rant capturing his first ring in little talent, actually, it was a frenzy of free-agent At the start, Curry took a
tion, worth every shot we his 10th NBA season. mostly coaching.” moves this summer to try backseat to let KD get
took in practice, fighting “It’s different just because Later, he was straightfor- to keep as many stars and comfortable. Then Curry
through injuries that he had of what happened last ward and serious: “We brilliant backups as possible carried Golden State while
this year, and it’s an unbe- year to be honest,” Curry were heartbroken last year, around for another run in Durant healed from a left
lievable feeling.” said. “We went through, for but this year was our turn.” 2018. knee injury that sidelined
The second NBA champion- lack of a better term, bas- Myers realizes adding Du- Owner Joe Lacob will be him late in the regular sea-
ship feels drastically differ- ketball hell in that sense of rant might not have worked pulling out his pocketbook son.
ent for Curry, because this just being so close to get- so well with anyone but the to potentially give Curry “Steph definitely took a
ting the job done and not Warriors. a $200 million deal. What- back seat to start the season
until he realized we didn’t
Like realizing that goal and hav- “Kevin’s journey, our team ever it is, the big-money need him to take a back
Like
ing to think about that for embraced
him.
Some contract will be a hefty
seat, we need you to be
an entire year and com-
teams wouldn’t embrace a raise from the $12 million
us on partmentalize and just try guy who came into a situ- he earned on the way to a aggressive as you’re going
us on
to be,” forward Draymond
ation like ours. It looks like 16-1 postseason.
to keep the right perspec-
Green said. “And when
Facebook tive about this season and it was easy, but guys like Money and egos aside, the Steph turned that corner, I
Facebook
learn the lessons that we Steph Curry welcoming him Warriors blended beautiful-
think it was after Christmas
and kind of let him shine — ly from the day Durant first
learned.”
Bon Dia 24 Aruba Coach Steve Kerr cried. it worked out like it should,” walked into team head- Day, when he turned that
corner, we became almost
facebook.com/bondianoticia Golden State general man- Myers said. “If you want quarters. unbeatable.”q