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Brianna Williams, ESPN
The Golden State Warriors will be welcoming back a familiar face when they host the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night.
The Dubs and Suns will kick off the season with Kevin Durant‘s Chase Center debut in his first game back in the Bay Area since leaving Golden State.
Warriors co-executive chairman and CEO Joe Lacob is in favor of Durant’s No. 35 being retired — and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum agrees.
Tatum added that the Warriors’ core from their consecutive championships, should have their numbers honored.
“No question. [Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala] all going in the rafters,” Tatum posted on X.
Golden State reached five consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019, trailing only the Celtics who played on the NBA’s brightest stage from 1957 to 1966.
The Warriors have retired six numbers in the franchise’s 77-year history: Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Tom Meschery (No. 14), Al Attles (No.16), Chris Mullin (No. 17), Rick Barry (No. 24) and Nate Thurmond (No. 42).
Durant spent three seasons with the Warriors where he hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in back-to-back seasons, and earned matching NBA Finals MVP honors. During his time with Golden State he averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists before joining the Brooklyn Nets.
“… Look at the résumé. That would warrant me to get a jersey retirement, right? Do I want to be honored by a franchise I put work in for? Of course, I would love that,” Durant said to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears.
Source: www.espn.com