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How Kobe Bryant became a source of influence on the Warriors’ stars

Related Topics: Jamaal Wilkes, Elgin Baylor

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OAKLAND – Before the backlash filled his inbox with hateful messages and cupcake photos, Kevin Durant became struck and surprised with what he just saw on his phone.

Durant had just announced his free-agency decision in a Players Tribune article that he would leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 offseason. Before he had time to absorb the eventual backlash, Durant first became struck with who first reached out to him. Nearly three months after retiring from a storied 20-year NBA career, former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant contacted Durant to offer a message worth more than just his two cents.