OKC Thunder: Kevin Durant praises Serge Ibaka extension


Published: August 24, 2012 by Anthony Slater Comment on this article Leave a comment

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant pumps his fist in the final seconds of the 77-75 win over the Lakers during Game 2 in the second round of the NBA playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday,  May 16, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant pumps his fist in the final seconds of the 77-75 win over the Lakers during Game 2 in the second round of the NBA playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
By Anthony Slater – Aslater@opubco.com

Kevin Durant is in Dallas this week, promoting Friday’s regional premiere of his new movie Thunderstruck.

And in advance of the release, Durant sat down with ESPN.com, chatting about everything from his acting skills to his Olympic experience.

Durant also reacted to the latest basketball news out of OKC, praising Serge Ibaka and the front office for working out an extension and expressing optimism that James Harden and the Thunder can do the same.

Here’s the full interview with ESPN’s Marc Stein. Below are some of the highlights:

On Ibaka’s extension…

It’s a really big deal. I’m happy for him, first of all, him and his family. He worked so hard to get that [extension] and I’m just excited that he’s signed on for four more years and really believes in us. He easily could have said no, waited for next summer, played well this year and got more [money]. But he sacrificed for us and we appreciate him for that. He’s the ultimate team player. \

On Harden’s contract situation…

I want James to be here with us, of course. He’s one of my closest friends. Hopefully it works out, that’s all I can say. I haven’t asked [Thunder GM] Sam [Presti] about anything and I haven’t asked James about anything. I’m just going to let that take care of itself, be the best teammate I can be and hopefully by the time camp starts we have him locked up.

On if he views the Thunder as Western Conference favorites…

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by Berry Tramel
Columnist
Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The...
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by Anthony Slater
Reporter
Anthony Slater has been NewsOK.com's lead sports blogger since the summer of 2012, covering Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before that, he covered OSU athletics for The Daily O'Collegian , working as the sports editor and...
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