NBA Notes: Kevin Durant, Warriors, Pistons, Damian Lillard, Bucks

February 15, 2025

Steve Kerr on Kevin Durant: “I Don’t Blame Him One Bit”

NBA superstar Kevin Durant had the opportunity to reunite with the Golden State Warriors, but he wasn’t interested. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr understands why. Despite winning two Finals MVPs with Golden State, Durant still faced heavy criticism for joining an already dominant NBA team. According to Kerr, that scrutiny played a major role in KD’s decision to stay in Phoenix.

“I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here,” Kerr told ESPN. “He took so much s— for like, ‘Oh, you’re jumping on the bandwagon’ [when he signed with Golden State in 2016]. And then he’s Finals MVP two years in a row. It’s like he still gets criticized. So why would he want to face all that B.S. again?”

Pistons’ Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson Showing Growth

The NBA season has been tough for the Detroit Pistons, but young stars Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson continue to develop. Thompson has averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in February, proving he can make an impact on both ends of the floor. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has taken notice, especially of Thompson’s improved playmaking.

“He’s growing into the role that this team needs him to be in,” Bickerstaff said. “Offensively, we need him to be a threat. He’s an elite playmaker. Some of the passes he threw tonight … he’s a special passer, but now you can see his confidence growing as he’s finishing at the rim.”

Damian Lillard on Oakland’s Changing NBA Landscape

NBA star Damian Lillard is back in the Bay Area for his ninth All-Star appearance, but the Milwaukee Bucks guard says his hometown doesn’t feel the same. With the Warriors moving to San Francisco, the Raiders relocating to Las Vegas, and the Athletics planning to leave, Oakland’s once-thriving sports culture is fading.

“I feel like my childhood, a lot of the positivity was that all of the guys who are from the Bay Area we took pride in having our teams there,” Lillard said. “It gave us something to belong to us. But now with all of them leaving, it’s like a ghost town. So, I hate to see that for the city.”