OAKLAND: Kevin Durant wanted to look NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry in the eye, meet Klay Thompson face to face, and find out for himself whether they truly wanted him as a teammate.
The All-Star shooting tandem made it clear during a meeting last weekend that he would be a perfect fit with the Warriors.
“When I met these guys, I felt as comfortable as I’ve ever felt. It was organic, it was authentic, it was real,” Durant said. “It was feelings I couldn’t ignore.”
Splash! Golden State had a superstar cast.
The Warriors formally announced the signing of the seven-time All-Star and four-time scoring champion on Thursday and introduced him with fanfare during a news conference at the team’s downtown Oakland practice facility, where screens read, “WELCOME KD TO DUB NATION.”
So, what’s next? Seventy-four wins and a title? Golden State’s record-setting season with the best wins total ever of 73 ended without back-to-back championships.
“I haven’t made the decision yet, but he might start,” NBA Coach of the Year Steve Kerr joked, sitting next to a smiling Durant. “We lost in the Finals. We want to get better. We want to be better. You can’t do any better than adding KD to the current crew.”
Kerr won’t change his team’s style with the addition of Durant, whom the coach will count on as a “brilliant passer” and someone who can cut and do it all.
“We’ve got as many or more playmakers on the floor as anybody,” said Kerr, already planning his training camp strategy on the court and how to prepare his players for even further scrutiny.
Durant might be able to match his coach’s wit, too.
When asked about Thompson being part of the pitch meeting, Durant quipped about receiving a text message from him: “I didn’t know he had a phone.”
Of Warriors assistant coach Ron Adams, a former member of the Thunder staff, he said, “Ron Adams was the only reason I came.” They shared a big hug before Thursday’s festivities.
The Warriors — who rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Thunder in a thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals before losing the finals in seven games to Cleveland — signed Durant to a two-year contract worth more than $54 million. There is a player option after the first year.
Not that Durant plans to skip town after one season. He’s here to win a championship.
“You never expect to get this much better,” general manager Bob Myers said. “I’ve admired Kevin as a basketball fan. ... I’m just excited to watch you play. I’m honored you’re here, I’m honored you chose us. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Durant even spoke to Hall of Famer Jerry West along the way to help him weigh his choice.
“I know it’s Jerry West and I know he’s the ‘Logo,’ and you’re expecting a sexier conversation, but it was more so about the team and how I could fit in and how great the coaching staff was,” Durant said.
Still, Durant went to bed Sunday “torn” and still uncertain about his choice, and he told his father and representatives he needed a night to sleep on it. Then he woke up first thing Monday with more clarity.
He knew it would have been “easy to go back to something you’re comfortable with.” This, he said, is the harder route — “It was time for me to try something new, try a new challenge. No better place to do it than here.”
Former teammate Russell Westbrook took it hard.
“That call to Oklahoma City was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life. Tears were shed. I trusted my gut,” Durant said. “We live in this superhero comic book world where either you’re a villain or you’re a superhero if you’re in this position, and I know that, and I know I haven’t changed as a person.
“I don’t treat people any differently because I made the decision to play basketball in another city. I understand the fans in Oklahoma City and basketball fans around the world are, I guess, upset. But like I said, I made the decision based upon what I wanted to do and how I felt, and it’s the best decision for me, so I can’t really control how you feel.”
Ultimately for Durant, having fun for however many years he has left playing basketball is the plan.
“I just want to enjoy every single day of it.”
The Phoenix Suns say they have signed all three of their draft picks and the trio will participate in the Las Vegas Summer League.
The three are No. 4 overall pick Dragan Bender of Croatia, No. 8 overall pick Marquese Chriss of Washington and second-round pick Tyler Ulis of Kentucky, the 34th choice overall.
The 7-foot-1 Bender and 6-10 Chriss are just 18 years old. Both will be groomed to play the “stretch-forward” role, a power forward who can shoot from the perimeter.
The 5-10 Ulis has a shot at being the Suns’ third point guard behind Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.
Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a two-year contract with free agent center Festus Ezeli worth $15 million.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the deal hadn’t been announced by the team. It was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
His agent, David Mondress, did not immediately respond to messages left by the AP seeking comment.
Ezeli, a 6-foot-11 native of Nigeria, was drafted with the 30th pick in the 2012 draft by the Golden State Warriors. Last season he averaged 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 64 games, including 13 starts.
Ezeli missed 31 games this season after having arthroscopic surgery in February to remove debris from his left knee.
The Blazers announced earlier Thursday they had acquired guard Shabazz Napier in a trade with the Orlando Magic for cash considerations.
The Los Angeles Lakers have formally announced their signings of veteran Luol Deng and second-round pick Ivica Zubac, along with the re-signing of guard Jordan Clarkson.
The Lakers on Thursday also confirmed their acquisition of guard Jose Calderon and two second-round picks from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the rights to forward Ater Majok.
Deng agreed to a four-year, $72 million to join the rebuilding Lakers. The 12-year NBA veteran spent the past two seasons in Miami.
Clarkson got a four-year, $50 million deal to return to Los Angeles. The smooth combo guard has been a rare bright spot in the two worst seasons in franchise history.
The Lakers didn’t confirm the re-signing of guard Marcelo Huertas, who announced on Instagram he had agreed to a two-year deal.
7 p.m.
The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard Matthew Dellavedova in a sign-and-trade with Cleveland.
Dellavedova has career averages of 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 215 games over three seasons with Cleveland. He is coming off a season with career-bests of 7.5 points, 4.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds while helping the Cavaliers win the NBA championship.
As part of the deal announced Thursday, the Bucks will send the rights to Albert Miralles to the Cavaliers. Miralles, who currently plays in the Spanish League, had his draft rights sent to Milwaukee in a December 2011 deal that sent Keyon Dooling to Boston.
Splash! Kevin Durant finalizes two-year deal with Warriors
Splash! Kevin Durant finalizes two-year deal with Warriors
Alexxanderr wins gold as Global Champions Arabians Tour concludes fifth stage in Cannes
- Focus now on Netherlands as competitors eye World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme in Doha
CANNES: The 2025 Cannes edition of the Global Champions Arabians Tour came to a close on Sunday with Alexxanderr, owned by Al-Mirqab Farm, taking home the prestigious Senior Stallion Gold Championship title.
Held at the Stade de Hesperides, the fifth stage of the tour and first European stop offered a blend of world-class Arabian horse competition, cultural experiences, and Riviera glamour.
A high-profile crowd of horse owners, celebrities, influencers, partners, and members of the public attended the event over three days.
Bader Al-Darwish, the CEO of the Global Champions Arabians Tour, said: “Cannes has once again proven to be a spectacular stage for our tour.
“This event reflects everything we stand for — excellence, integrity, and the celebration of Arabian horse heritage.
“Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their remarkable performances. We are honored to bring this experience to such a stunning destination and grateful for the support of our partners who made it possible.”
With $1.63 million in prize money awarded across all classes, the Cannes stage once again cemented its position as a highlight of the GCAT calendar. The results will contribute to the overall tour rankings, bringing competitors closer to the prestigious Leading Male, Leading Female, and Top Handler titles.
The competitors were challenging for a chance to qualify for the World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme, which is set to take place in December in Doha.
Meanwhile, the tour continues to its sixth destination in the Europe and Middle East Series at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands from July 18-20.
Sri Lanka’s Mathews hails ‘dream run’ in final Test against Bangladesh
GALLE: Sri Lanka are set to begin a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Galle on Tuesday that will mark the end of Angelo Mathews’s “dream run” in the game’s longest format, as the cricket season resumed following South Africa’s World Test Championship triumph at Lord’s.
The red-ball matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be followed by a white-ball series of three one-day internationals and three T20s.
Hosts Sri Lanka begin the contest as firm favorites, eager to turn a fresh page after a stuttering end to the previous WTC cycle.
Sri Lanka were firmly in the mix for a place in the WTC final until December before the wheels came off spectacularly.
Two defeats in South Africa followed by a twin collapse at Galle against Australia saw them tumble down the rankings.
“We had one hand on a spot in the final but a few brain fades at crunch moments cost us dearly,” Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva told reporters on Monday.
“We’ve learnt our lessons. A strong home start lays the foundation for success on the road.”
Sri Lanka’s squad includes six uncapped players, with at least one debut cap set to be handed out.
Spin remains Sri Lanka’s strength, with Prabath Jayasuriya the key and selectors also calling up off-spinner Akila Dananjaya.
Bangladesh enter the series without stalwarts Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is realistic about the challenge.
“Tamim and Shakib — those are massive boots to fill,” he said. “But this is a chance for the young guys to put their hands up.”
Shanto, who is playing in Galle for the first time, said the team have “prepped well and we’re ready for the challenge.”
The Test will also be the swansong of Sri Lanka’s veteran Angelo Mathews, who is retiring after 118 Tests.
The former skipper also played his first Test on the famous pitch perched beneath the fortress in Galle in 2009.
“It’s been a dream run,” said 38-year-old Mathews.
“The wins in England in 2014 and whitewashing the Aussies in 2016 stand out. I’ve seen so many youngsters come through the ranks,” he said.
“I truly believe Sri Lanka’s future is in good hands.”
Sri Lanka have won 20 of the 26 Tests they have played against Bangladesh, who have only managed a solitary win along with five draws.
The second Test will begin in Colombo on June 25.
German regulator pushes for more fan control of soccer clubs like Bayer Leverkusen
- Top German soccer clubs including Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig face the prospect of handing over more control to fans after a regulator intervened
BONN: Top German soccer clubs including Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig face the prospect of handing over more control to fans after a regulator intervened.
A statement Monday from Germany’s antitrust regulator, the Federal Cartel Office, said it wants to see tighter enforcement of the rule known as 50-plus-1 which requires a soccer club’s membership to have majority voting rights over how the team is run.
The regulator said recent European court rulings suggest permanent exemptions from 50-plus-1 for last year’s champion Leverkusen and fellow top-tier club Wolfsburg seem “no longer possible.”
It said efforts should be made in the future to ensure the club’s professional soccer operations come under the control of membership organizations, but didn’t name any deadline.
Leverkusen and Wolfsburg were founded as workers’ teams at major companies which own the clubs, with pharmaceutical giant Bayer at Leverkusen, and car manufacturer Volkswagen at Wolfsburg. Their long-term involvement led to the clubs getting exemptions from 50-plus-1.
The regulator also said the German men’s soccer league needs to ensure the clubs it oversees “offer their fans the opportunity to become a new full member with voting rights.”
That appears to affect Leipzig and its relationship with drinks giant Red Bull, though they weren’t directly named by the regulator in Tuesday’s statement.
The club was founded by Red Bull in 2009 and is part of its international network of soccer clubs. It grants voting rights to far fewer people than most German clubs. Local media reported that only 23 members had the right to vote at Leipzig as of last year.
Saudi Arabia edges Haiti 1-0 in Gold Cup on penalty kick
Saleh Al-Shehri’s penalty kick in the 21st minute held up as the winner as Saudi Arabia shut out Haiti 1-0 in CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A play on Sunday night in San Diego.
Al-Shehri drew a foul in the penalty area on Frantzdy Pierrot in the 18th minute, then converted a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner to lift Saudi Arabia (1-0-0, 3 points) in the opener for both teams.
Haiti had an opportunity to pull even in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, but Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi (four saves) denied Dany Jean in the center of the goal on a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Haiti (0-1-0, 0 points) posted a decisive edge in corner kicks (11-1), but Saudi Arabia finished with more shots on goal (5-4) and shot attempts (13-7).
Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide finished with three saves.
A penalty shattered Palestinian World Cup dreams for 2026. The squad has inspired hope
- The Palestinian team needed to win its last three Group B games in Asian qualifying to advance to another continental playoff round
AMMAN: An engrossing qualifying journey of 16 games and the obstacles of a war came crashing down in an instant for Oday Dabbagh and his Palestinian team.
Their legacy will long continue.
Players left the field in tears in the immediate aftermath at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan, last Thursday after their quest for a first appearance at a World Cup evaporated on a contentious penalty awarded deep in extra time. Fans looked on, stunned.
“It’s very hard,” Dabbagh, the team’s star striker, told The Associated Press. “It was massive for us to get to the next stage — we prepared well, we had a positive atmosphere, and we had the fans with us. We gave everything, but it was gone in a moment.”
Needing to win its last three Group B games to reach the playoffs for the last two of Asia’s automatic spots at the World Cup, the No. 101-ranked team in the world beat Iraq in Basra in March, Kuwait in Kuwait City on June 5. Five days later, it was leading 1-0 against Oman in Jordan in the 97th minute.
The Palestinians had never been in a better position in qualifying for a World Cup. Then Oman was awarded, and scored, a penalty to make it 1-1 in the last real act of the game.
Not long after the dejected players had picked themselves up, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) made an official complaint to soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, about the penalty. It didn’t change the fact, however, that the long road trip was over.
“We tried to put smiles on the faces of Palestinians amid their great pain,” head coach Ihab Abujazar said. “The heroic players are our pride and glory, a symbol of all that is beautiful in the Palestinian nation.”
Playing Away
It may have been different if the Palestinian team, admitted into FIFA in 1998, was able to play home games in front of its fans in Gaza or the West Bank in the third round of qualifying. The Israel-Hamas war meant that couldn’t happen. And so the many of the team’s home games have been taking place in the nearby Jordanian capital of Amman, home to a large community of Palestinians.
“It is easier to play in your home,” Dabbagh, who helped Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup last month, said. “But the circumstances there are so difficult so we choose to play in Amman as it is close to Palestine, the people are the same, and we have a lot of fans there.”
There’s been no domestic soccer in the Palestinian territories since the war started in 2023. Hundreds of athletes are among the more than 55,000 Palestinians killed in the conflict and sports facilities have been destroyed.
“Everything that goes on makes us all sad,” Dabbagh said. “As players, we try to focus on football during the games, but we use what is happening as motivation to bring happiness to the people of Palestine.”
All but two of the roster of 27 national squad players are contracted to foreign clubs either in the region or in Europe, a change from the start of the conflict when a number of players weren’t able to leave the West Bank or Gaza to report for international duty.
Over the past year or so, the Palestinian squad has assembled for training camps in Algeria, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to prepare for World Cup qualifying.
The top two teams in each of three Asian groups in the third round earned direct spots for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The third- and fourth-place teams in each group advanced to a playoff for two more places. A win would have secured fourth spot in the group for the Palestinians. The last-minute draw meant they finished a point behind Oman in fifth.
What’s next?
Now their focus has to shift to the 2027 Asian Cup, which will take place in Saudi Arabia. The Palestinian team has already qualified for the tournament.
Dabbagh is ready to show that the team is set to remain a force in Asian soccer and continue to be ambassodors for millions of people.
“We will keep using football as a message to show the world that there are other things in Palestine” he said. “We will keep going. The dream is not over, it is just delayed.”
