Kevin Durant to the Warriors became real last night

The Oracle Arena crowd got their first look at Kevin Durant since he decided to join the Golden State Warriors in free agency.

The former MVP wasn’t in the uniform that he wore when they last saw him and he wasn’t in the uniform he’ll be in when they see him again. This time, the seven footer, was in a darker blue than what he’ll be wearing. Across his chest, in white, was “USA.”

Durant’s first appearance at Oracle Arena was highly anticipated, to say the least.

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Bay Area basketball fans were itching to get a look at their new Warrior. Countless brand new no. 35 jerseys and t-shirts were visible throughout the arena, both on bodies and hanging over the railing by the player’s tunnel, being held by fans hoping to get an autograph.

The Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler was announced to a warm reception from the crowd. Then Durant followed and the crowd showered him with love. They explodedand gave him an extended round of applause as “Roaracle” came alive. Durant remained focused and it looked like he was trying to suppress a smile.

He started alongside his new teammates, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green–something Warriors fans are looking forward to seeing an awful lot. The other two guys that would be playing a lot of minutes with them? Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala, who were seated courtside to enjoy the show.

Team USA won the opening tip and Kyrie Irving gave the ball to Durant who immediately pulled up from several feet behind the three-point line. He rose up over the defender and released the ball, high over his head using his long arms to get the shot off over the Chinese player.

Splash.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/758126299537928193

The first shot of the game was Durant’s first shot as a Golden State Warrior in Oracle Arena and it was nothing but net. Following the game, KD said that “I knew I was going to pull the first shot since like yesterday, luckily it went in.”

Then he came down and dunked the ball. He scored the first 10 points of the game for the American team and was single-handedly beating Team China. It was Durant at his finest. With every bucket that left his fingertips, legions of Warriors fans giggled to themselves.

With every bucket that left his incredibly long fingertips, the Durant acquisition became more and more real.

He’s going to be doing this a lot throughout the season. There was a play where Green set a high screen for Durant. He dribbled left and then zipped a perfect bounce pass to his new power forward, who then swung the ball to the corner, then it went to Irving on the wing. He missed.

Luckily, the two guys that will be standing in those two spots once the regular season starts just happen to be the greatest shooting backcourt in the history of the NBA.

Durant only played 19 minutes, scored 13 points on 4/8 shooting from the field. It was a small taste. But it was a taste nonetheless. He’s dominated the Oracle Arena floor, scoring points at will on that hardwood, and now he will do it to help the home team. In the second half, Durant drove and found Kyle Lowry in the corner and started celebrating while the ball was in mid-air.

The shot missed, but Durant’s initiation is complete; he’s now ready to be a Warrior.

At the half, Durant stood with Curry, Iguodala, and the man who put this all together, General Manager Bob Myers. It’s finally starting to hit those that are still in disbelief. Kevin Durant is a Golden State Warrior. The greatest scorer of his generation is joining a revolutionary team led by a two-time MVP.

The Oracle Arena crowd was a party from start to finish. There was a lot to be excited about, but the Warriors served as bookends. Durant went on a run to start the game and Thompson, who splashed four consecutive three-pointers in the last couple of minutes, finished it.

The Warriors’ new-and-improved Super Death Lineup was in the building with the architect. Most of the members in that room in the Hamptons in early July were present in the same arena where the last two NBA Finals have been hosted.

Yesterday, Thompson said that he’s still “starstruck” around Durant, still unable to process the fact that he’s joining the Dubs. After the game, Green said that the four-time scoring champ said he had pregame jitters.

The nerves are going to be there as this team looks to make history. But we got a glimpse into just how special this season could be and how wild Oracle Arena will be on Opening Night. It’s exciting. We’re still several months away from meaningful NBA games and we’re much farther away from reaching this team really get into a groove.

It’s hard not to imagine that many teams will suffer the same fate that China did. It’s finally starting to sink in that Durant is a Warrior. The ink is dry and the factories have printed out thousands of shirts, but last night’s game made it real.

There’s something special brewing in the Bay Area and the NBA isn’t ready for it.

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