AUSTIN, Texas — The San Antonio Spurs have returned to Austin for a back-to-back inside the Moody Center.
Despite Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending injury being announced hours before Thursday’s game, anticipation is high for the I-35 Series. This year marks the third time the Spurs have returned to their “second home,” but this time it’s also a homecoming for former Texas Longhorn and current Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
The Suns arrived in Austin on Tuesday, giving Durant and the team ample time to explore the city. One of Durant’s first stops was the Longhorns’ practice. Here’s everything players from both teams had to say about playing in Austin this week.
Durant on his plans while in Austin
“I love Austin. I love being here. The city’s grown … I’m going to try and roam around the city a little bit. I don’t have a set schedule, but I’ve got some stuff I want to see,” Durant said. “Austin is a place where I kind of started this journey, and to have so many friends and family that are still there from 16, 17 years ago is pretty sweet … This is a unique time.”
Durant on Austin’s recent bid for the WNBA
“It’s a basketball city,” Durant said. “We’ve always had major support here for women’s basketball. We have one of the greatest coaches, some of the greatest players that come through here … a great talent in [Madison Booker]. All down the line.”
Durant added that despite reports of the WNBA accepting Cleveland’s bid for an expansion franchise, Austin is still “primed” for women’s basketball and won’t stop trying to bring the city a professional basketball team.
Durant on the viral scene of Serbia’s locker room at the Olympics
“I just thought it would be cool to be part of that story. The Olympics have always been special to me,” Durant said. “I have major respect for other countries … but to get a little sneak peek into their locker room and hear that was … it made me smile.”
De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell on the Spurs in Austin
Newly acquired All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox and veteran Devin Vassell also shared their thoughts on the Spurs in Austin.
For Fox, it’s his first taste of “home” in a month after being acquired by the Spurs during the team’s Rodeo Road Trip. Fox, a Texas native whose wife is from San Antonio, was in the middle of an extended road trip with the Sacramento Kings before being traded.
“My school used to come to the UT camps,” Fox said. “That’s the only time I’ve ever played in Austin. But with the growth of the city, I think this is cool.”
Fox also added he spent the All-Star break back home in Houston resting and not thinking about his move while sharing his excitement to play in Texas where family and friends can visit.
Vassell echoed that excitement and how he was glad some of his new teammates who hadn’t experienced the I-35 Series will finally get their chance to shine inside the Moody Center.
“I’m excited for them to see it. Especially playing Phoenix and it’s [Durant’s] first time coming out here, I feel like it’s something we don’t even know yet,” Vassell said. “I like being out here and giving back to the Austin community.”
You can watch Vassell’s full interview with KVUE’s Cory Mose below: