Kevin Durant and Tristan Thompson may have been part of heated battles in the last two NBA Finals, but deep down, they are brothers.
Both attended the University of Texas, Durant four years prior to Thompson. But the connection between the Warriors forward and the Cavaliers center comes before those battles for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
So, how did Thompson feel when Durant signed with Golden State after the Cavs stunned the 73-9 Warriors the 2016 NBA Finals?
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SIGN UP HERE "At the end of the day, Kevin is my brother and I remember sleeping on his couch when he was in college when I would come to visit," Thompson told Yahoo's Chris Haynes on the Posted Up podcast. "He’d look out for me. Obviously, I was shocked, but at the same time, I know what he wanted and it was to be in a position that he felt like, he wanted to be part of something special. He saw that in Golden State, he wanted to win a championship, he wanted that ring, and at the end of the day, for you to continue to grow as a brand, as a business. You know, having a ring is definitely great for your resume, so I definitely understand that."
Durant received a ton of criticism for his move from Oklahoma City to Oakland. But with two NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVPs, it's clear Durant made the right choice.
His Texas brother, Tristan Thompson, can see that, even if he cost the Cavs center a chance to win another title.