« I’ll try to abstain, I know how much it motivates him. » Before facing the Suns and Kevin Durant Last night, Brian Keefe preferred to play the cautious card by not going to “trashtalk” the phenomenon opposite. The latter still scored 29 points (11/19 on shots including 5/8 on shots) and the Suns won.
It should be remembered that the two men know each other very well. When “KD” was drafted by the Sonics in 2007, PJ Carlesimo had the future Wizards coach on his team. Keefe will stay with Seattle, then Oklahoma City until 2014, before joining the Knicks. In other words, he knows Kevin Durant well.
« He doesn’t want to take credit for it, but he taught me everything I know. Regarding the approach to shooting sessions, training sessions, matches, he changed my state of mind… I owe him a lot », assured Durant in 2016.
« Kevin is very kind to say that. But the truth is that I learned more alongside him », Retorts the Washington technician today, questioned about the frequent praise of his former player.
Contribute to your journey
As early as 2014, the year in which he obtained his only MVP trophy, the future Warriors player had highlighted the influence of the Thunder assistant on him, especially after being reframed after a series of defeats.
-« It was probably the most frank discussion I’ve ever had with one of my coaches. He told me how bad I was: in my attitude and in my actions. I then decided to question myself and he was right. I had to change the way I thought and the way I acted towards my teammates. I had to change everything », he reported at the time.
Brian Keefe says he doesn’t remember this exchange which dates back a decade. But she demonstrates that the relationship established with her players allows her to have these kinds of honest conversations. “ You try to get to know people for who they are, where they come from. I value these things “, assures the technician who also worked for the Lakers and the Nets.
This, on its own scale, thus contributed to making Durant the player he subsequently became. “ The fact that I was able to participate in this journey with him for seven years, observe these lessons and see how he lived them: it is something I will never forget », term-t-il.
