Kevin Durant is jealous of
Kyle Lowryand
DeMar DeRozan's friendship, according to
Toronto Raptors assistant coach Rex Kalamian. Kalamian, who was an
Oklahoma City Thunderassistant coach under Scott Brooks from 2009 to 2015,
told Chris O'Leary of the Toronto Star that Durant texted him in August to rave about Lowry and DeRozan, having been around them with Team USA:
"Your two guys are the best. I'm jealous of their relationship, the way they get along with each other and the way they play together. The way they enjoy each other, it's great," Kalamian said of that text on Monday, as the Raptors finished up their practice. Durant, all the way from the Olympics in Rio, was in awe of the friendship that Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan had on display with the U.S. men's basketball team.
"I think it's kind of what he wants," Kalamian continued. "He wants that bond with someone . . . and I think he's going to find that.
"Early on in OKC, we had that."
...
"We had that (bond) really with James Harden. He was a connector of everyone. He brought Westbrook, Durant and (Serge) Ibaka and they all kind of connected, they all came together," Kalamian said.
"James is a big reason and when he left I think Kevin said . . . that trade was the beginning of the end for him and now there wasn't that connection as much.
"Kevin and Russell, they respect the heck out of each other, no question about it. They played well together, they work well together, they communicate, but I think the connection was lost a little bit for whatever reason."