'We had to win': Kevin Durant's presence gives push to Monaco players in Game 4 / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Getty Images- AS Monaco-Direction de la communication Credit Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Getty Images- AS Monaco-Direction de la communication

Kevin Durant's presence at the Gaston Medecin for Game 4 featuring AS Monaco and Olympiacos Piraeus was largely unknown up until a few hours before the clash on Friday night.

Player of the Game EFF 25 Donta Hall Points 14 Accuracy 5-6 Rebounds 10 Assists 0

But since French outlet L'Equipe broke the news of his arrival in the Principality, the vibes changed instantly for the home team. Monaco were in dire need of a win that would tie the series and force a fifth game in Piraeus next Wednesday.

In theory, a visit by a world-renown athlete would be considered nothing short of a distraction to what was going to be Monaco's most important game of the season. Mike James knew Durant from their common stint at the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020-21 season, and the three-time Olympic gold medalist gladly responded to his friend's invitation, arriving in Monaco in his private jet on game day.

Although the club confirmed that KD was going to be in attendance, Durant only appeared almost four minutes into the game, at a point when Olympiacos were on their way to a 9-0 run. The 33-year-old NBA superstar, wearing a mask and a yellow cap, walked to his court seat escorted by security guards and to the excitement of home fans.

The first person to greet him was Alexandros Katsaros, Mike James' agent, who had occupied a court seat close to Durant's. As soon as Monaco started making up for lost ground, as they were behind 6-12 midway through the first quarter, KD became all the more invested in the game.

A Donta Hall dunk, a Mike James circus shot, several Dwayne Bacon mid-range jumpers off the dribble, and some good Paris Lee on-ball defense were more than enough to get Monaco's special guest fired up, as Durant quite frequently stood up clapping and celebrating the hosts' plays.

Donta Hall

Team:Monaco BasketPosition:PF, CAge:24Height:208 cmWeight:105 kgBirth place:Alabama, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

He even had a moment with Olympiacos' front office as he was walking back to his seat before the second half started. Durant signed a few autographs for Monaco's young fans before Katsaros pointed at Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos. They were sitting in the front row, on the other side of the court seats where Durant and his entourage were stationed.

Olympiacos' presidents and owners, as well as VP Giorgos Skindilias, stood up to shake Durant's hand and then watched their team lose in a nail-biting finale.

When Kostas Sloukas' shot went off the mark literally at the buzzer, allowing Monaco to escape with a narrow 78-77 win that kept their Final Four dream alive, Durant was ecstatic, exchanging high-fives with everyone around him.

Mike James was the first to embrace him, then came Yakuba Ouattara and Dwayne Bacon. Paraphrasing what Mike James said about the series, it was a good game that turned out to be even better as it drew to a close. Durant himself couldn't have asked for more in his first-ever live EuroLeague basketball experience.

The whole experience couldn't have been better for Monaco's players either. Not only did they get a precious win in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, but they also had Kevin Durant actually cheering for them.

"We never gave up. Olympiacos were up for the most part. We played with strength and tough defense," guard Yakuba Ouattara summed up Game 4 for BasketNews.

"We toughened it up at halftime. We had a long talk, guys came out and competed," forward Dwayne Bacon added.

"It goes down to guys not wanting to go home. We got another chance at it. It will be my first Game 5. I'm excited and ready. It's my first time in any playoffs in my career. I'm happy that my first showing is somewhat amazing. It's sensational to me," the former Charlotte Hornets player admitted.

Bacon, who had played four seasons in the NBA, amassing 207 games with Charlotte and Orlando, had faced KD several times. As a young and promising athlete, Bacon used to look up to Durant. He later developed a personal relationship with him, although he never had the connection that Mike James grew to enjoy with the two-time NBA champ.

"I've known Kevin for a while. When I first came in and entered the Draft (in 2017), I went to see a game of his and talked to him. He signed a jersey for me, so it's a long history there. We were talking on and off. I was really excited that he got the chance to watch me."

Credit Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

But this time was different. KD was very responsive to what Bacon and Mike James were doing on the court. Describing the overall sensation, the Florida State standout made it clear that he feels like the KD of Europe.

"The best players got to play. He's one of the best, if not the best, players in the world. At the end of the day, I feel like I'm one of the best over here," Michael Jordan's protégé said with confidence.

Bacon's remarks are backed by evidence. On a night when Mike James was struggling offensively, Bacon stepped up big-time. On Friday, he poured 21 points on 9/17 shooting from the field, plus 4 assists to boost Monaco's attempt to tie the series.

On top of everything, he also made his team's last six points in the contest, despite missing the shot that could have sealed the deal with 13 seconds remaining.

"No matter who's in the house, I'm still trying to win. I came out and did the same as in Game 3. The only difference is we won the game tonight. I want to stay confident, stay within my rhythm and keep getting extra shots and looking after my teammates," Bacon pointed out before going into more detail about what Durant's visit means for European basketball in terms of exposure.

"It's big! He's one of the first guys that came over here and watched some EuroLeague basketball," he said.

Bacon maintains that EuroLeague is tough, adding that there's great basketball history over here.

In any case, the No. 40 pick in the 2017 Draft is having one of the best rookie seasons any former NBA player has ever had in the Old Continent. That's one thing Kevin Durant should know.

"It's my first year, and I love it," Bacon stressed with enthusiasm. "I'm pretty sure, from what I’ve seen, that KD loved watching the game too."

Bacon said although the two of them met before the game, he didn't have the time to explain to Durant the ins and outs of playing basketball in Europe. However, three years ago, the Nets forward expressed his desire to play his final season as a pro with FC Barcelona.

"We know each other well. There was only a quick conversation after the game," Bacon continued. "He just told me, 'Good game, you played very well.' At the end of the day, that's the type of stuff you want to hear when you play a good game in front of guys so big."

Yakuba Ouattara, who also received KD's props for a 'good game', got a similar feeling. "It was amazing to have one of the best players in the world watching us and supporting us. It gave us a lot of energy," the Frenchman said.

Paris Lee admitted that Kevin Durant provided him and his teammates with some extra motivation.

"Oh, man! It was good. Him being there had Mike and Bacon get another gear to them. I feel like everybody stepped up and wanted to win more. It was big," he succinctly described the situation for BasketNews.

Credit Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Guard Danilo Andjusic has no NBA connection but said vibes were different with Durant being around.

"It was special. We don't have Kevin Durant watching our games every day. So, we had to win. We gave a big show, and the most important is that we won," the Serbian sniper told BasketNews.

Andjusic said Monaco's players saw KD just a few hours before the game, as Mike James had invited his former teammate to the gym for a meet-up with the rest of the squad.

"I met him this morning, but we didn’t have the chance to discuss a bit more. I know that Mike hangs out with him."

Although it was a last-minute call for Durant to come to Monaco, Andjusic said that the team was informed by Mike James about the visit and underlined that EuroLeague and Monaco had earned themselves a new fan.

"It's nice for everybody, even for EuroLeague, if a player like that comes to watch EuroLeague games. I think he has become a Monaco supporter. He was jumping around during the game. He knows many of our players who were in the NBA, and I think he enjoyed the game," Andjusic observed.

Of course, not everyone on Monaco's side was thrilled to have Durant watch their game.

"Honestly, where I come from and what I've done, it doesn't fave me anymore," Donta Hall, another ex-NBA player, cynically admitted.

Hall, 24, has played a total of 22 games with Detroit, Orlando, and -yes- Durant's Brooklyn Nets in the 2020 NBA bubble. Besides, for someone who has lost his father to a fatal heart attack at one of his junior varsity games (in 2010), things in life have been put into perspective.

"I've seen it all, and I’ve played a lot of basketball."

Hall said he didn't enjoy Durant's presence as much as he enjoyed watching Monaco's fans give it all for their team and supporting it all the way, registering a second straight sold-out at the Gaston Medecin.

"I really had fun tonight, although, on Wednesday, there was greater energy. You got to love the fans, they're all nice people. That's what keeps the smile on my face. We want to keep making history."

Hall thinks Durant might come to watch other games of Monaco in the future.

"KD is a great, cool guy, on and off the court. You can't take that away from him. He's human just like the rest of us," he noted.

If Monaco's players and fans were excited to see Kevin Durant in the house, there was a man on Friday night who clearly didn't want any of it. Ask coach Sasa Obradovic, and he'll tell you all you need to know. Just one phrase of his is enough to illustrate how he felt.

"Durant? I didn't even see him. I acted like he wasn't even there. But they told me that he was," the Serbian coach told BasketNews after spending almost half an hour doing interviews with French and Greek media.

Obradovic, obviously very tired himself, spoke about his players' fatigue and much-needed recovery time ahead of Game 5 in Piraeus ("We spentan enormous amount of energy"), as well as the mental aspects of the series ("Now, the mental pressure is going to be more on Olympiacos' side to handle. They have players that can do it, but on the other hand, we got guys with big heart and character").

Talking about mental readiness, Obradovic conceded that keeping his players' minds out of Durant's presence was "impossible."

"How was I supposed to do that?" he asked.

"Whatever I would tell them, no matter how big authority I have, it wasn't going to happen."

"But I have respect for my guys, and that's what matters the most."

Credit AS Monaco-Direction de la Communication

In fact, respect and trust are essential ingredients for Monaco going forward to a decisive Game 5 in Greece.

"We had the biggest heart, although we aren't the smartest," Obradovic noted.

Regardless of Kevin Durant, the man who reformed Monaco this season, leading them to their first-ever EuroLeague playoffs, thinks that the energy level in Game 4 "was like never before", adding that he would have liked "as a coach to channel it."

In the end, granting his players -not full, but- a great deal of freedom and control must have paid off.

"It was our last home game in the season, and many people appreciate what we have done until now," Obradovic said.

"With this win, we did a great favor to French basketball and to Monaco as a city."

Let's see what kind of favor KD can do to European basketball in case he decides to be a regular at EuroLeague games.

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