Kevin Durant And The Thunder Are Holding A Voluntary Minicamp In Los Angeles

It’s fairly common for teammates to work out with each other during the offseason. Usually, though, it’s just two or three teammates, not the entire team. This summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder are proving to be the exception to that rule.

According to Berry Tramel of the Daily Oklahoman, 10 of the Thunder’s players, including the big three of Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook, are working out together in Los Angeles, an offseason workout that Tramel has dubbed “Thunder University.

And somewhere, Sam Presti has to be smiling. The Thunder culture, good ol’ Thunder University, hasn’t been crippled by the passage of time or the anguish of a season from hell.

“It was really cool,” said the president of the fraternity, fellow by the name of Kevin Durant. “It was fun, good to see everybody. Haven’t seen all the guys since the end of the season.”

Durant chatted on the phone for a few minutes Thursday about the off-season workouts he and his pals put together this week. Ten Thunder players are working out together in an old gym on the UCLA campus.

This isn’t just some happy circumstance. Durant, Ibaka and Westbrook organized the workouts, not just getting everyone together, but the scheduling, as well.

Durant’s a free agent next summer – the marquee free agent, beyond all doubt – and several teams, including Durant’s hometown Washington Wizards, will be perfectly positioned to give Durant the massive max deal he’ll demand. But this “Thunder University” perfectly symbolizes what most pass over when they consider Durant’s departure. There’s great chemistry on that team, from Durant and Westbrook all the way down the bench. Oklahoma City isn’t the most exciting place in the world, and while Washington, D.C. or the Bay Area would be a much bigger market, Durant’s never seemed concerned with that (plus, how much more marketable can Durant really be?).

Chemistry, friendship, a positive culture and the best chance at a title will likely be more important to Durant than expanding his brand. And Durant has all of that with the Thunder.

(Via the Daily Oklahoman)

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