Kevin Durant on OKC giving a rookie his number, "that's f---ed up"

What's the story?

NBA Featured Columnist Ric Bucher recently sat down with Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors. They discussed the heat that Durant received when he decided to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors last season.

One item of note that they talked about was the fact that Thunder rookie PJ Dozier now has Durant's #35 jersey and that doesn't sit well with him.

In case you didn't know...

The Thunder signed PJ Dozier this season to a two-way contract after the guard went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft. The two-way contract enables him to be moved back and forth from the NBA and the G-League; where he currently plays for the Oklahoma City Blue.

The heart of the matter...

Durant admits to having hard feelings about Dozier having the #35 jersey for the Thunder. He explains his initial reaction to the situation below:

"I didn't have that perspective at first. I didn't have it when I went back to OKC. I was like, 'F--k all of them.' I didn't have it when they gave my number away. I was, 'F--k all of them.' My best friend works for the team, I told him, 'F--k all y'all. That's f--ked up.'

Since that initial thought upon hear that news, Durant has softened on his stance. He stated that he had to "get it out of his head" and tell himself that "it's not that serious, it is what it is."

The reason Dozier wanted the #35 and Oklahoma City gave it to him was not to make Durant mad, Dozier wanted to honor his late cousin Reggie Lewis who died suddenly at the age of 27 in 1993.

What's next?

After the Boston Celtics ended Golden State's winning streak of seven games, the Warriors (11-4) look to start a new winning streak on Saturday evening as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers (8-6)

Author's take...

I'd like to be nice in this situation, but I just can't. Ever since the move to Golden State, he's been a gigantic baby. He left the franchise that drafted him for the team that defeated them last in the playoffs. He took the easy way out and deserves to be called a cupcake and spineless.

On top of all that, I covered the reason PJ Dozier took the number 35, and it has a lot more meaning than just Oklahoma City slighting Durant. He just needs to get over it.