Steve Kerr Denies Report Claiming Warriors Were ‘Furious’ Over Thunder’s Treatment Of Kevin Durant

Late Sunday night, ESPN released a report saying the Golden State Warriors were “furious and bewildered” by the Way the Thunder treated their former star forward, Kevin Durant, in his first return to Oklahoma City on Feb. 11.

Steve Kerr Dispute Report on Warriors’ Anger Over Thunder’s Treatment of Kevin Durant

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has now revealed this isn’t true.

“I don’t agree (with the report),” Kerr told reporters at shoot-around in Oklahoma City on Monday, adding that he has yet to read the story. “(Thunder GM) Sam Presti’s a friend of mine. I know [Thunder owner] Clay Bennett. It’s a class organization all the way, so I don’t really pay any attention to a story like that unless there’s an actual name that’s put on it.”

The report, which cited NBA sources, alleged Golden State felt as though somebody from the Thunder organization should have addressed the media before Durant’s return to “help ease the tension” and that their failure to do so “contributed to the raw emotions” that led to an “unsettling, hostile atmosphere” during the game, which was held in the city Durant had called home for nearly 10 years before leaving for California in July.

The Warriors (56-14, 1st in Western Conference) defeated the Thunder 130-114 on Feb. 11 at Chesapeake Energy Arena, and again 111-95 on Monday night. Golden State also won their two previous meetings against Oklahoma City on Jan. 18 and Nov. 3 (both at home).

Durant missed Monday’s win due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain he suffered on Feb. 28. He did, however, travel with the Warriors.

Kerr continued to question whether ESPN’s report came from a legitimate source.

“I assume (the story is) just sources?” Kerr asked. “I don’t know who (the source) is. It’s nobody with the Warriors. We have great respect for the Thunder — Sam’s been a friend of mine forever. They’re first class. So I don’t know where that comes from.”

Warriors guard Stephen Curry, meanwhile, discussed how absurd he found it that stories like this often distract from more important news.

“Certain stories that don’t need to see the light of day, don’t need to have any life breathed into them, somehow are the most popular,” the MVP said. “That’s kind of how it goes. To me it’s kind of comical what can be put under the spotlight during an 82-game year, when at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to win games and enjoy what we do for a living.”

The Warriors next visit the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 04: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors claps his hands during their preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers at ORACLE Arena on October 4, 2016 in Oakland, California.