Kevin Durant Says Players Won’t ‘Give in’ to Owners During Lockout

NBA players are understandably angry about being locked out by team owners, and even though Kevin Durant hasn’t been very active (or particularly aware) during labor talks, he claims that he and others won’t give in to the owners’ demands: “We’re going to stand up for what we have to do, no matter how long it’s going to take,’ Durant told The Associated Press after the conclusion of his two-day youth basketball camp. ‘No matter how long the lockout’s going to take, we’re going to stand up. We’re not going to give in.’ … Durant acknowledged ‘it might have to take all the way up until maybe December or January’ — meaning the start of the NBA season in October would be jeopardized — but the players are committed to getting a CBA they feel is fair. ‘The way the CBA worked before is something we really liked. There’s no need to change it,’ Durant told AP. ‘Things have been going very well for us, as far as the league, revenue and things like that are concerned. We want to stick with that pace, but of course the owners want to go a different way with it. We’re going to stick with it until we come out with a good deal.’ Durant, the Thunder’s representative to the players’ association, said he regretted that he hadn’t been able to stay active in the union’s work because of other offseason obligations, but veteran Nick Collison has been filling in for him and he’s also staying in the loop by email.”