By ADAM ZAGORIA
Ahead of his visit to Madison Square Garden Friday night in which he went for 41 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in a 128-100 Warriors win, Kevin Durant said he’s “not really impressed” by a promotional billboard outside the Garden suggesting Durant come to New York in free agency.
With Durant and the Warriors set to invade the Garden, a billboard outside read, “Can you make NY sports great again?”
Durant is set to become a free agent next summer, and the Knicks are openly planning on targeting big-name free agents like Durant and possibly Jimmy Butler. New Jersey native Kyrie Irving, who visited the Garden last week, has already said he plans to re-sign with the Celtics, Durant, 30, is playing on a two-year, $61.5 million contract and is expected to opt out.
“To be honest, I don’t know how I feel about that type of stuff,” Durant said Thursday of the billboard, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “It’s cool. No disrespect, but I’m not really impressed with that type of stuff. I just really like playing basketball. I try to focus – my entertainment is really what happens on the basketball court. You know what I’m saying? I know all of that stuff is a part of it, but for me I don’t really get up for that stuff.”
Earlier this month, Tony Durant, Kevin’s brother, suggested his brother may leave Golden State after this season by posting on on Instagram about “filling the hand up before we get outta here.” Durant has won back-to-back titles in Golden State since leaving Oklahoma City. He was the MVP of the Finals last June.
Kevin Durant’s brother’s comment on IG: “Filling the hand up before we get outta here!”
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— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) October 17, 2018
In an effort to create cap space for free agency, the Knicks waived Joakim Noah and declined Kristaps Porzingis’ rookie option, giving them an extra $10 million in cap space.
Durant previously called Porzingis a “unicorn” — in a good way — and praised his game.
“I think we’ve gotten away from enjoying the skilled players in this league,’’ Durant said of the 7-foot-3 Porzingis in 2016. “We’ve got so many guys that are athletic and big and strong, but he’s a skilled player. He can shoot, make the right plays, he can defend, he’s a 7-footer that can shoot all the way out to the 3-point line. That’s rare. And blocks shots. That’s like a unicorn in this league. You’ve got to respect what he’s doing. This being New York City, everything is under a microscope, but he’s progressing at a high rate pretty fast and he’s gonna be a force.’’
Photo: NY Post
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