Durant 'jealous' of Lowry-DeRozan bromance
Kevin Durant is thrilled with his decision to join a ready-made title contender like the Golden State Warriors, but there's still something missing.
Durant doesn't have a relationship with another player in the league like the one Toronto Raptors guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan share, and after playing with the two best buddies at the Summer Olympics, Durant finds himself envious.
Raptors assistant coach Rex Kalamian has ties to Durant from their days together in Oklahoma City, and got a text from Durant in August praising the bond between Toronto's star backcourt.
"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," Durant texted Kalamian, the assistant coach told Chris O'Leary of the Toronto Star.
"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."
Having been teammates since 2012, Lowry and DeRozan were able to help each other grow into stars - to the benefit of the Raptors. Along the way they produced enough friendship moments to fill a buddy-cop movie script.
Here are some highlights of their budding bromance:
- Lowry, DeRozan detail elaborate late-night trips to McDonald's
- DeRozan, Lowry continue comedy duo antics
- Lowry posts touching message on DeRozan's birthday
- Lowry serenades DeRozan with birthday song
- Lowry congratulates DeRozan: 'Dinner is never on me again'
Of course, Durant once had a trusty sidekick in Russell Westbrook, but they have since drifted apart. Their relationship currently seems to consist of petty remarks relayed through a game of broken telephone in the media.
"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," Kalamian explained.