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So as he watched the horrifying images Monday as a tornado ripped through suburban Moore, the emotions came bubbling to the surface and so did the need to help. Durant pledged $1 million for tornado relief through his family foundation on Tuesday, eager to help a devastated area begin to rebuild. "As the day went on and I saw the footage and the casualties and the houses being blown away, it was tough to see," said Durant, who was in Minneapolis to watch longtime friend Monica Wright play a preseason game for the Minnesota Lynx. "I call Oklahoma City my home. I go through Moore all the time. It's unfortunate. We're going to come together as a city like we always do and we're going to bounce back." ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City 

Brian Mahoney: Thunder owner Clay Bennett on @Kevin Durant making $1 million donation. "As extraordinary as that number is, it does not surprise me a bit." Twitter @briancmahoney

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City 

Those who have tuned into the new the past two days, have probably stumbled across the devastation in Oklahoma City as a result of a disastrous tornado. While athletes are not typically not the stars in the disaster relief, this time around there is a huge star and his name is Kevin Durant. Oklahoma City All-Star Kevin Durant privately donated 1 million dollars to the Red Cross in order to assist in the disaster relief. His donation will be put to good use as many residents homes were completed demolished. AthletePromotions

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Jon Krawczynski: Durant: "It’s tough right now, but the sun is going to shine soon. We’ve just got to stick together." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Per the Red Cross, Kevin Durant has given a $1 million donation to the disaster relief fund. Yesterday Durant tweeted, “Praying for the victims of the Tornadoes in OKC these last few days..Everybody stay safe!” DailyThunder.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Kent Youngblood: Fans attending today's Lynx game will notice Kevin Durant sitting courtside, watching his good friend Monica Wright. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

A prominent member of the Westboro Baptist Church is drawing a link between the Oklahoma tornado's devastation and a local team's support for openly gay NBA star Jason Collins. Fred Phelps Jr., the son of Westboro Baptist Church minister Fred Phelps, tweeted the following: "OK Thunder's Durant flips God by praising fag Collins. God smashes OK. You do the math. #GodH8sFags #FagsDoomNations #FearGod #GodH8sU" Huffington Post

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Jason Collins 

The massive tornado that ripped through a handful of Oklahoma City suburbs grabbed the attention of the sports world on Monday, especially for the players and coaches with ties to the area. Kevin Durant, a three-time scoring champion for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, posted on his Twitter account that he was praying for everyone involved. He added: "Everybody stay safe!" ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Royce Young: Presti called Westbrook and Durant the "caretakers of the organization" and "drivers of our culture." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Sam Presti, Russell Westbrook 

But after Kevin Durant provided a level-headed and mature response, filled with perspective and void of hyperbole, his answer seemed to almost sell short his competitive spirit. “Nothing’s ever a wasted year for me. It’s basketball,” Durant said. “I’ve grown so much as a man since the beginning of the season. I’ve grown so much as a leader. Nothing is ever wasted. Of course the ultimate goal in this league is to win a championship. But I’m never going to say I wasted a year. I’m blessed to even wake up and do something I love every day. So it’s never wasted. We take that for granted a lot. But that’s something I’m not going to do. I enjoy playing this game. I enjoy playing for this city, my teammates. So every day I get to see those guys and go through some tough times and laugh and argue it’s never wasted. I’m just blessed to be here. And I’m never going to take it for granted.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Following his response, Durant was then asked what he would say to possible critics who might hear his outlook and question his competitive fire. “I don’t give a damn. I’m going to be who I’m going to be,” Durant said. “I’m not Kobe Bryant. I’m not Michael Jordan. I’m not LeBron James. I’m not Magic Johnson. I’m me. I’m not going to ever compromise myself, my integrity and what I believe in for winning some basketball games and winning a championship. That’s just not I how I was brought up. I’m always going to fight for this game I love. I’m going to claw until the last buzzer sounds. And if that’s after a championship then of course I’ll be happy. I’m not satisfied just being in this league and losing. I’m going to work as hard as I can to try to get to that mountaintop. I enjoy playing the game. I enjoy being here. But I’m never going to come out to the media and say we wasted a year because we lost a championship. Like I said, I don’t have to be Kobe Bryant.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Kevin Durant leads all NBA players in career commercial appearances with 63 at last count, according to standings calculated by HoopsHype. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is second with 42 and Miami's LeBron James is third with 39. In team rankings, OKC ranks third with 88 total commercials, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers with 125 and the Miami Heat with 91. Russell Westbrook is second among Thunder players with 11 commercials, followed by Serge Ibaka (six), Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha (two each), Kevin Martin and Reggie Jackson (one each). Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin, Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha, Reggie Jackson, Commercials 

Royce Young: KD: "I think last night after the game, I don't normally drink Gatorade, but I think I drank four or five Gatorades after the game." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Royce Young: KD: "I love Kevin Martin. I love everything he stands for ... I would love for him to do whatever he feels is right for himself." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Kevin Martin 

“We had a really good season,” said Kevin Durant. More Durant: “It’s tough to swallow now, but I’m sure we’re going to look back on this down the line and really appreciate this tough time.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

“Memphis is a really, really good team, and they made it tough on us every one of these games,” Durant said. “I gave it all I had for my team. I left it all out there on the floor. I missed 16 shots, but I kept fighting and I kept being aggressive. That’s all I can ask for.” Oklahoman

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

“I left it all out there on the floor,” Kevin Durant said, after playing all 48 minutes but hitting just five of his 21 attempts, by far his worst shooting night of the playoffs. “I missed 16 shots, I kept fighting, kept being aggressive. That’s all I can ask for.” SI.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Benjamin Hochman: “I’m really really proud of Reggie – I’m excited for his future.” – KD on Reggie Jackson, former Mr. Colorado Basketball Twitter @nuggetsnews

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Reggie Jackson 

In 2008, the NBA's Seattle Supersonics left the Emerald City to become the Oklahoma City Thunder. They've since gone on to become one of the league's hottest young teams, powered by superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Seattle sports fans, meanwhile, have been left team-less, and many of them are still bitter over the move. You can count hit-making rapper Macklemore among the angry. Macklemore, a Seattle native, took to Twitter this week to express some beef over the Thunder using one of his songs as an in-arena pump-up jam. Mashable

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics, Russell Westbrook, Macklemore 

Durant on Monday was asked what he's learned about himself while playing without the injured Westbrook. “That we need him,” Durant said. “We miss him.” Durant entered Game 4 against Memphis averaging 34 points, 10.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocked shots in seven games without Westbrook, who recently underwent season-ending knee surgery. But the Thunder was 3-4 in those games. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook