Durant at Target Center: 'We'll bounce back from this'

Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant was at Target Center to watch his friend, Monica Wright, play for the Lynx. Durant donated $1 million to a tornado disaster relief fund

May 21, 2013 at 9:10PM
Kevin Durant stood for a moment of silence for the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes prior to the Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun game
(center) Kevin Durant stood for a moment of silence for the victims of the Oklahoma toronados, as he attended the Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun game on 5/21/13. (Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant was in Minneapolis visiting his childhood friend Monica Wright when devastating tornadoes hit Oklahoma City suburbs on Monday. Durant saw the images on TV and decided to do his part to help. He made a $1 million pledge through a family foundation to the American Red Cross for disaster relief. Durant talked about his donation and the Oklahoma tragedy during halftime of Tuesday's Lynx game. Durant came to watch Wright play in the preseason game. "It's devastating," Durant said. "Natural disasters are something we can't control at all. To have it hit so close to home, I call Oklahoma City my home now. It's tough to go through, but we're a city that comes together. We'll bounce back from this. It's tough right now but the sun is going to shine soon. We've just got to stick together." On his $1 million donation: "God told me to do something to help these families out and that's the first thing I thought of. I'm just trying to do anything I can to help. It's such a tough situation. Some of those things you can't get back. But I just try and help the families out as much as I can." On his inital reaction to the tornadoes: "Tornadoes come through Oklahoma City all the time. Sometimes it's kind of like routine. I thought it was just a small one because the small ones do hit in Oklahoma City around this time. But as the day went on, I saw the footages and the casualties, the houses being blown away. It was tough to see. I call Oklahoma City my home. I love the state. I love Oklahoma City. I go through Moore all the time. It's unfortunate, but we're going to come together as a city like we always do and we're going to bounce back." On his donation: "Hopefully they get back on their feet. I wish I could have done a better job for my team to stay in the playoffs because basketball and sporting events brings everybody together and takes your mind off it a for a few hours. Some part of me wishes I could have played better for my team to stay in the playoffs. Hopefully they get back on their feet. It's so, so tough. I'm praying for the families, I'm feeling for them. Hopefully everything gets back to normal real soon." On when he plans to return to Oklahoma: "I'm thinking about going back tomorrow. Go to the hospital to see some kids or something. Give some hope. Playing for the Thunder, we mean so much to the state. So many people support us. I just want to go back and support those people."

about the writer

about the writer

Chip Scoggins

Columnist

Chip Scoggins is a sports columnist and enterprise writer for the Minnesota Star Tribune. He has worked at the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2000 and previously covered the Vikings, Gophers football, Wild, Wolves and high school sports.

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