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A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 9 July 2019

Durant officially joins Nets, Russell to Warriors

By TIM REYNOLDS next time you see me on Another big free-agent
AP Basketball Writer the floor,” Durant said. deal got done Sunday
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The deal Durant is a perennial All-Star when Utah completed the
bringing Kevin Durant to and two-time NBA champi- signing of forward Bojan
Brooklyn is official, and he’s on after winning Finals MVP Bogdanovic to a four-year,
changing his number along honors with the Warriors in $73 million contract.
with his address. 2017 and 2018. He’s a four- “We are very pleased to
The Nets completed a sign- time scoring champion welcome Bojan and his
and-trade with the Golden and his 22,940 points ranks family to our organization,”
State Warriors on Sunday third among active players. Jazz executive vice presi-
night, with Brooklyn land- He missed most of this past dent of basketball opera-
ing Durant and a protect- season’s playoffs, first with tions Dennis Lindsey said.
ed first-round pick in next a calf injury and then the “His ability to play both
year’s draft for D’Angelo Achilles rupture during the ends of the floor in addition
Russell, Shabazz Napier and NBA Finals — a series Gold- to his exceptional shooting
Treveon Graham. In this June 10, 2019, file photo, Golden State Warriors forward en State lost to Toronto in six will make him an integral
Kevin Durant (35) reacts as he leaves the court after sustaining
Durant said last week he an injury during first-half basketball action against the Toronto games. contributor to our franchise
would sign a max deal with Raptors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Toronto. “We’re thankful to Kevin for and our postseason goals.”
Brooklyn, which would be Associated Press the incredible things he did Former NBA MVP Derrick
$141 million over four years, has already established Kyrie Irving as well this sum- for our team and franchise Rose also completed his
after three seasons with himself as a champion and mer and officially signed during his three years with signing with Detroit on Sun-
the Warriors. The rest of the one of the best players of him Sunday, he’ll wear No. the Warriors,” Golden State day, wrapping up a $15
deal was worked out over all-time, and we couldn’t 7 — after playing in No. 35 general manager Bob My- million, two-year deal.
subsequent days, and the be more excited to wel- throughout his career. ers said. Many other agreed-upon
NBA signed off on the terms come him into our program Durant released a state- Russell got a $117 million, deals remain pending,
Sunday. in Brooklyn.” ment saying he wore 35 to four-year contract from the such as Kawhi Leonard’s
“Along with the rest of the Durant isn’t expected to honor someone “very near Warriors. signing with the Los Ange-
league, our coaching staff play at all next season and dear” to him. He was an All-Star for the les Clippers and the block-
has long admired Kevin’s while he recovers from an “But as I start this new chap- first time last season, aver- buster trade that will see
incredible skill, resilience Achilles injury. When he ter in my basketball life, the aging 21.1 points, 3.9 re- Paul George join him via a
and tenacity,” Nets coach does return to join a new- number I’ll be wearing on bounds, 7.0 assists and 1.2 trade with the Oklahoma
Kenny Atkinson said. “He look Nets team that added my back is the Number 7 steals per game. City Thunder.q