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Miami Heat's Dexter Pittman credits Kevin Durant for Texas basketball's success

BY RJ YOUNG, Staff Writer, ryoung@opubco.com | Modified: June 11, 2012 at 6:43 pm | Published: June 11, 2012 Comment on this article

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The NBA's reigning scoring champion taught Pittman work ethic and resolve — traits he'd need to play at the next level. But some lesson weren't learned.

Pittman hit Pacers' guard Lance Stephenson with a controversial forearm in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals but claims it was an accident.

Q: What was it like playing Kevin Durant at Texas?

A: We came in the same year and he imprinted a lot of things into that program like strength and working hard. When he left, it stayed there with us.

What kind of legacy did he leave the program with?

Great legacy. He started one. If you go back there now, you'll see all the guys working hard right now. That's what brought me here — working hard and being dedicated. Kevin's like my brother too. So it's a lot to play with a guy like him and then you play with a guy like LeBron.

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