CHICAGO -- Throughout this Gold Cup, United States manager Gregg Berhalter spoke of nothing less than winning the tournament. Given the strength of Mexico's side -- even one shorn of players such as Tecatito Corona, Chicharito Hernandez, Carlos Vela and Miguel Layun -- the odds of that happening seemed long.

So the Gold Cup was always going to be about more than winning. It was going to be about gaining experience for the younger elements of the U.S. squad, as well as a manager new to the international game. It was also about absorbing tough lessons, and boy did the ones delivered in Sunday's 1-0 Gold Cup final loss to Mexico hurt.

- Marshall: Mexico's 'other' Dos Santos haunts U.S.
- Mexico ratings: Pizarro leads way for El Tri
- U.S. ratings: Bradley, Morris too slow for hosts
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: All you need to know

One of the lessons is as old as the game itself: A team playing a more talented opponent simply has to take its chances, and the Americans didn't, especially early in the match. Both Christian Pulisic and Jozy Altidore failed to convert clear breakaways in the first 10 minutes, with Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa saving Pulisic's effort and Altidore failing to put his attempt on target. Paul Arriola darted through and beat Ochoa to a ball in the 31st minute, but could only roll his tight-angled effort wide. Jordan Morris had a header cleared off the line by Andres Guardado in the 51st minute.

It was at that point that the game turned irrevocably, and it was time for the U.S. to be handed some different lessons, most notably in terms of game management, both on the field and on the sideline. Berhalter never did have an answer for the tactical adjustments made by Mexico counterpart Tata Martino, in particular Martino's moving of Rodolfo Pizarro to the right flank where he could run at Tim Ream, a center-back attempting to play left-back.

Pizarro had already been a huge presence in the first half, teeing up Andres Guardado for a 16th-minute chance. Pizarro's influence only increased in the second half, and the same was true of his teammates. Mexico's grip on the game tightened. The U.S. proved incapable of keeping the ball. And after pounding on the door -- with multiple shots going right at U.S. keeper Zack Steffen -- Mexico finally carved out a goal of quality. Of course it was Pizarro in the middle of it, and his pass to Raul Jimenez was back-heeled to Jonathan dos Santos whose bending shot beat Steffen in the U.S. goal.

So just how did the game get away from the U.S.? The assessments varied.

"It became a very vertical game, and it opened up a lot of space," Berhalter said postmatch about the second half. "We needed to avoid that by being able to keep [the] ball, being able to move the ball side to side, moving more horizontally rather than vertically.

"We were rushing attacks in the second half, much too direct, and it cost us energy."

Berhalter added, "I think what we lacked was I think some of the confidence, some of the composure. We knew it was going to be a big event, we knew it was going to be a semi-hostile crowd. And I think what I'd say is the confidence is what we lacked. Mexico certainly had it."

Both Bradley and Altidore spoke of how the U.S. struggled to find the first pass when it regained possession.

"We've got a young team, and I think there's moments of growth there," Altidore said about the second half. "I think if you look at that 10-15 minute period, we lost the game a bit. We were trying to play out of the back and stick to our guns and try to get up the field a bit, get in their half and try to change the momentum a bit."

The team's inexperience in some parts of the field was evident as well, and was especially true for Weston McKennie. The Schalke midfielder was handed the captain's armband, a surprising move given the presence of more experienced players such as Altidore and Michael Bradley. Whether it was the armband or the strength of the opponent, the occasion proved to be too heavy for McKennie. His passing was labored, and he lost dos Santos on Mexico's goal.

Berhalter's attempts to combat the game's change in fortune were mixed. Bringing on Cristian Roldan for the struggling Morris in the 62nd minute made some sense. Gyasi Zardes coming in for Altidore two minutes later, not so much. Both substitutions conveyed a message of being defensive in posture and playing to get to extra time.

The introduction of Daniel Lovitz for Tim Ream was a head-scratcher given that Tyler Boyd was available, though Berhalter explained himself in his postmatch news conference.

"When we brought on Cristian, the idea was to help us keep possession," he said. "It was to help us overload the center of the field. I thought we had a difficult time in the center of the field tonight. We felt like he was going to give us the help that we needed centrally, and I think he did well.

"With Gyasi, it was a case of legs, just getting fresh legs. It's very hard to press Mexico if you don't have the stamina, if you're not ready to spring really hard. Jozy put in good shift. We were using him a lot, and I think he did a good job. But we needed some legs there.

"In Daniel's case, at the end of the game we wanted width, we wanted to move our wingers inside and get some crosses into the penalty box. We were willing to risk more staying with a two-and-one on the back line, getting our fullbacks high, tucking our wingers inside and trying to create pressure that way."

Berhalter's moves regarding Altidore remain perplexing. The drop-off in play by the U.S. in each of the last two matches when Altidore departed was clear. At the least, Altidore could be counted on to occupy the opposition center-backs better than Zardes. Altidore was at a loss to explain it as well. Speaking to English-language media for the first time in weeks, he insisted that he felt fine when he was subbed out.

"I felt really good, I felt strong. I felt like I was affecting the game," the U.S. forward said.

When asked about how his minutes were managed in the tournament -- he was the first player subbed in each of the last two games, and prior to that saw Zardes start most of the matches -- Altidore said, "I don't know. I felt good, or else I don't think I'd be here."

The extent to which the U.S. can parley the experience of Sunday's final, as well as the whole tournament, into continued growth is the big question going forward. Certainly the team looked more cohesive as the tournament went on. And while McKennie struggled in the final, and Pulisic's finishing touch went missing on the night, it should be noted that both players showed progress over the last several weeks. The same was true of a back line that conceded just two goals in the entire tournament.

"We have a quality team, and we believe in a lot of the young players," said Berhalter. "We think that at the end of the day, we need to gain experience. A game like this is perfect for us. It was a big occasion, a lot of the players' first time playing in a game like this, and we need to learn. We weren't ready for the step tonight but we will be ready."

The U.S. is still the beneficiary of lowered expectations as well as mediocre competition in the tournament. Given how many players Mexico was missing, it's clear that a significant gap between the two sides remains. But the U.S. needed to start this cycle somewhere. Reaching the Gold Cup final isn't a bad first step.

The talent is there, Sri Lanka are just missing the application. The players need to show more mental toughness in pressure situations. Sri Lanka must ensure there's better depth of talent going forward, and give their players the confidence to play a fearless brand of cricket...

Sri Lanka's chief selector Ashantha de Mel rolled out familiar themes without being specific, as the team returned home from the World Cup.

Addressing a packed press room at the Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters, de Mel put a positive spin on Sri Lanka's campaign.

"Scotland is a very good, up and coming side. In fact they had beaten England and Pakistan [Pakistan have never played an ODI v Scotland] in Scotland, so in their conditions they're a very competitive side. So it was nice to see that we managed to score in excess of 330 [322] runs against them," de Mel said, referencing Sri Lanka's two-match series against Scotland just prior to the World Cup.

"Then when the World Cup started we got off to a bad start with New Zealand, but of the seven [completed] games we played we won three. We beat England and West Indies as well. I don't think it was a very successful tour, but I think winning three out of seven is almost 50%.

"And the bowlers, although they were not able to get a lot of wickets, I think they bowled reasonably well. It was just that the batting didn't fire in the first few games to give the bowlers a chance," he continued. "If you watched the [Australia] match you saw that we were 115 for no loss, but ... we allowed Glenn Maxwell to go for just 40 [46] runs. He's their fifth bowler, and I feel we didn't attack him enough. Because when you're chasing 338 [335] you can't allow the fifth bowler to go for 40 runs because then at the end you're going to face Starc and Cummins and trying to score at eight-nine runs an over.

"In this sense the mental attitude of the players needs to change. We must play a Sri Lankan brand of cricket. We must go there and back our talents. We must play positive cricket."

In terms of how Sri Lanka can reach these stated goals, de Mel said they already have a very good core group of players, but that long-term planning is crucial for their talents to bear fruit.

"We have two goals. One is to plan for the next World Cup, the other is to plan for the immediate future and the next couple of games.

"When you look at our present batch of players, Dimuth [Karunaratne] can play another World Cup, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Janith [Perera], Kusal Mendis, even [Lahiru] Thirimanne, I think they can play. Angelo Mathews, if he stays fit, he can also play another World Cup. So I don't see too many problems in the age make-up of this squad.

"I personally feel that the batting, one to six, there's some stability. Maybe we may bring in one or two people, such as [Niroshan] Dickwella who is in form, or Shehan Jayasuriya who is also in the runs. But other than that, I think the top six, we're quite set and we want to build around that. From the fast bowling side we've had some injuries, but with them now recovering and coming back into the fold, we might be able to add some of those guys too. Spinners also we'll have to look and see, because guys like Akila [Dananjaya] and [Lakshan] Sandakan are knocking on the door."

"But at the same time, we expect to bring in more young players into the squad. What we have to ensure is that there is good competition among the first team players and the fringe players. What we've told the players is to go and play without fear, without worrying about your position for the next game."

Captain Karunaratne and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha were also at the press briefing. While Karunaratne's leadership at the World Cup left both Hathurusingha and de Mel impressed, neither captain nor coach is guaranteed to continue in their roles. Hathurusingha is only half way through a well-remunerated 36-month contract, which runs down on December 31, 2020, but his role has remained tenuous of late.

When asked about his future, Hathurusingha said: "I expect to see out the remainder of my contract."

De Mel was initially brought in as head of the selection committee up until the end of the World Cup. At this point it is unclear if he will be asked to continue in the role.

All three are likely to still be in place for Sri Lanka's next two assignments - home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

We all know it, but there's no harm repeating it - Virat Kohli has not scored a century in the World Cup. In fact, Kohli has not reached three figures in his last ten ODI innings. The last time he experienced such a barren stretch was in the five-month period between January and July in 2017, when he went without an ODI century for 11 innings.

It is a strange feeling not just for Kohli, but to people around the game in general, as we've all come to expect special things from the man who is just eight short of matching his idol Sachin Tendulkar for the most number of ODI centuries (49) at just 30-years-old.

For now, though, Kohli is grappling with the changed nature of his role in the Indian batting order. Although Kohli continues to be the No. 3, the Indian captain has been batting more with a mindset suited to a No. 4. That change is mainly a consequence of the unsettled middle order. Just under two years ago, MS Dhoni would marshal the middle and lower order, while Kohli went about dominating the opposition in the top order.

But with Dhoni's inconsistency and his domination thinning, Kohli has assumed a role this tournament of directing traffic while going run-a-ball. In fact, the average number of balls Kohli has faced in the tournament - 58 - are the same as in the eight ODIs before the World Cup. However, the time in the middle has shortened.

Another significant factor that has forced Kohli to adopt a different role is the success of the Indian openers, especially Rohit Sharma, who has scored five centuries this World Cup. At the start of the World Cup, the Indian think tank had decided that one batsman among the top three would play as long as possible and drop anchor once he got the start. Rohit has managed to do that a handful of occasions. In fact, in the last two matches, Rohit and KL Rahul have registered 150-plus stands which has given Kohli barely an hour or so at the crease.

Has this made him restless?

"No, not at all. It's been a different kind of role that I've played this World Cup," Kohli said on Monday. The difference, Kohli pointed out, was in helping explosive batsmen like Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant gain their footing quickly and allow them the freedom to go after the bowling knowing he was manning one end.

"Coming in the latter half of the innings, you have to play a different role, which is controlling the middle overs and letting guys like Hardik and Kedar, and MS - and in the past few games, Rishabh - come out and express themselves. I have been very happy with holding one end and letting guys express themselves, striking at 150, 160 or 200 if the team needs. And I know I can accelerate in the end."

One has to adapt, Kohli said.

"I have learnt so much in this World Cup, along with spending time in the middle, that, okay, this is also a role that you are supposed to play. It's been nice, it's been a different kind of a challenge to me and I have really enjoyed it - rotating strike and understanding how to play in those middle overs, and allowing the others guys to come out and express."

Kohli reiterated that flexibility is something India have accepted in a long tournament and that has served them well - they lost only one of eight matches in the group stage. And for that reason Kohli said he would not be shy to forsake his No. 3 in case the situation presented itself - where the opening partnership has been a solid one and there is a need for an aggressive batsman like Pandya, who can clear boundaries with ease.

"We have gone along with the pace of the game and that is why we have won the number of games that we have, and we intend to do [keep doing] the same," he said.

"If the situation presents itself where the opening partnership is outstanding and someone needs to go at No 3 and strike the ball, I am absolutely open to do that. To win a tournament like this you need to be very flexible and think on your feet and I think we have done that well so far and hopefully we can do the same thing in two more games."

At every ground this World Cup, Kohli has strode onto the turf so quickly that he is halfway down the pitch even before the outgoing batsman has crossed the ropes. But he has turned that restlessness into intent - one of his favourite words. With that intent, Kohli has managed to calibrate the pace of play nicely in the middle overs.

In the process, he has gladly embraced a role he is unaccustomed to playing: being the second fiddle.

Steve Rhodes' term as Bangladesh's head coach has come to a premature end following the team's eighth-place finish at the World Cup.

Rhodes, who took over in June 2018, was on a two-year contract that was originally set to run until next year's World T20. The BCB and Rhodes have now agreed to terminate the contract by mutual consent.

"The board had a review following the Pakistan match [Bangladesh's last at the World Cup] in a meeting in London," Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the BCB CEO, told ESPNcricinfo. "There it was decided that the BCB and Steve Rhodes will not continue on their agreement. The separation was by mutual consent.

"The BCB has not yet decided on a new coach for the Sri Lanka series, which is their next assignment."

Bangladesh will tour Sri Lanka in late July for a three-match ODI series. They will be without most of the coaching staff who were at the World Cup for it.

Neil McKenzie, the limited-overs batting coach, will be on personal leave during the tour, while the contracts of fast-bowling coach Courtney Walsh, spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi, and physio Thihan Chandramohan - all of which ended with the World Cup - have not been extended. The only members of the World Cup backroom in Sri Lanka will be fielding coach Ryan Cook and analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran.

Walsh, who took over as fast-bowling coach in August 2016, also spent three months as interim head coach, between the time of Chandika Hathurusingha's resignation and Rhodes' appointment.

Bangladesh made an impressive start to their World Cup campaign with wins over South Africa and West Indies keeping them in the hunt for a semi-final spot. Their campaign petered away eventually, though, with only one more win - against Afghanistan - coming from their last four matches.

There was speculation about Rhodes' role - and future - through the course of the tournament, with BCB members saying in informal discussions that he wasn't living up to their expectations.

"Just two games." "A fresh start." "It's about how we play on the day."

These are the things Kane Williamson and New Zealand are telling themselves, ahead of their semi-final against India. Of the final four in the World Cup, New Zealand are easily the least-fancied outfit. Not only have they won fewer matches at this tournament than the other three semi-finalists, they have also lost three matches on the trot, going down to Pakistan, Australia and England. Their group stage match against India, meanwhile, was rained out.

And yet, although on paper New Zealand are the most flawed team remaining, knockout cricket can throw up any result. Some swing for Trent Boult, a furious Lockie Ferguson spell, Ross Taylor surging back into his best form - all of these are conceivable. India have substantial flaws themselves.

"I think for everybody it sort of starts fresh tomorrow, after what was a very tough round-robin stage," Williamson said. "Whether we are underdogs or not, it doesn't really matter. It is about how we turn up tomorrow, and look to commit to the plans that we want to implement. We have to go out and play with that freedom because every side has beaten one another on a number of occasions.

"Although we have qualified fourth, we have the same opportunity as anybody else does. There's only two games left in the tournament. During the round-robin we saw that anybody could beat anybody and we saw on a number of occasions that happened. Our focus once again is committing to the style of cricket we want to play that gives us the best chance."

Williamson himself has been the lynch pin in the New Zealand top order more than any other batsman has been for any team, supplying over 30% of the team's runs. Also vital to New Zealand's progress to the semi finals, though, has been the contributions of New Zealand's bowlers. Ferguson and Boult have been especially good, taking 17 and 15 wickets respectively, at averages of 18.58 and 24.66.

James Neesham (11 wickets at 18.18) and Matt Henry (10 wickets at 31.50) have also bowled crucial spells through the course of the of the tournament. Although India go in with more highly-rated attack, New Zealand's isn't far behind, particularly if there is swing to be had at Old Trafford. New Zealand also have a reputation for being an excellent tournament team, because they are adaptable.

"I think the bowlers have been brilliant throughout this whole campaign. We know in cricket that every day is different. Just trying to adapt as a unit as best you can is definitely the most important thing.

"By and large, our bowlers have done that outstandingly well and I think we have seen conditions change considerably from first innings to second innings, on some occasions, so how guys have had to operate in the start of their innings, then move into the second half of the bowling innings, has had to be quite different. By and large, they have been superb throughout."

"But we know we've got a different challenge coming up tomorrow, and that it's a different side, but different conditions again."

England have the chance to replicate the Ashes winners of 2005 and inspire a new generation of supporters, Joe Root believes.

A documentary focused on the series and shown on Channel 4 on Sunday revived memories of that summer: the gripping cricket; the passionate supporters queuing around the block in the hope of a ticket and the celebrations in victory. For a little while, cricket seemed to be the centre of attention.

This World Cup hasn't gripped the nation in quite the same way. Not yet, anyway. Whether due to the rain at the start of the tournament or the lack of visibility of a sport played behind a broadcast paywall, the impression remains that vast swathes of the nation remain untouched by a tournament that has taken a while to come to the boil.

But England have effectively been playing knockout cricket for the last couple of games. And now, with a semi-final against the old enemy at a ground on which England have an outstanding record, there is still hope this World Cup can capture the imagination in something approaching the way the sport managed in the summer of 2005.

"I can remember that 2005 Ashes as a kid and being really absorbed in that whole series at 14 years old," Root said. "It was magical.

"For us to have a similar opportunity, on a slightly different scale maybe, is very exciting. It is great to see people showing a huge interest in cricket and it is great that this group of players are playing their part in getting people interested.

"Every player wants to see the game grow and flourish so it would be great to be able to help do that by achieving something very special. I think it is one of the most pleasing things that you can do as a sportsman. It would be brilliant if we could take that even further by doing what we have done in the last couple of games."

England will have been pleased to return to Edgbaston and not just because Trevor Bayliss suffered a theft before they left Manchester. The England coach's car was broken into and, slightly bizarrely, thieves made off with his floppy sunhat - though judging by the look of it, there's a chance it ran off on its own - but left his golf clubs. He was protected from the fierce Birmingham sunshine by a fetching new straw number.

More pertinently, they will have been happy to return to a ground where their record is excellent. They have won their last 10 international games across the formats here, while Australia have not won an ODI at the ground since 1993. England have also won 10 of the last 12 ODIs between the nations. They may have been further encouraged by news that the groundsman expects the pitch - a fresh one - to neither offer much to bowlers or deteriorate as the game progresses. It does not, at this stage, look like a two-spinner surface, which may be better news for Liam Plunkett than it is for Moeen Ali.

While the whole Australia squad - including those who are injured and those who are on stand-by - came to the ground on Monday (and, for a while, walked barefoot around the playing area in a habit that Justin Langer calls "grounding"), only a few of the England squad attended optional training. Among the batsmen, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Moeen and Root had a net, while Chris Woakes and Jason Roy had light fitness sessions on the outfield. And while the latter did not look completely comfortable, you do wonder how many legs he would have to lose before England chose to recall James Vince in his place.

Australia have some pretty encouraging stats of their own. They have played seven previous World Cup semi-finals and progressed every time - including in a memorable tied game here in 1999 - and they won the last ODI between the sides. As ever, if you torture the data for long enough, it will tell you pretty much anything you like.

England may not have quite the level of support they anticipated, though. It would appear many of the tickets for this game were originally sold to supporters of India. And while a decent portion of those are now being offered on the ICC's resale platforms, there is a danger that some will not come back on the market or will be cancelled having been offered for resale on other platforms. The ICC have reiterated that, if you want to be sure of gaining entry with a resold ticket, you have to have bought it on the official platform.

Whatever happens, England know they give themselves the best chance if they are focused yet relaxed, aggressive though adaptable, open to enjoyment but intense and ruthless. They have managed it in their previous two games but will know that, in previous high-pressure situations - not least the Champions Trophy final played at this ground in 2013 - they have come up a little short.

"We know that when we play the right kind of cricket and we think clearly under pressure then we will give a great account of ourselves," Root said. "The more we can stick to our style and philosophy, and the more we can remember the conversations we had before that India game the better. I feel like we are in a good place coming into it. The last two games have been like knock out games for us played in a high pressure environment that will hold us in good stead going into this game. We have to make sure our minds are right and we really enjoy the occasion.

"In the past, I found myself on occasions not playing the game at the speed that suits me. I need to make sure I'm in control of what is going on out there as much as I can. And I need to be absolutely clear on how I want to approach different scenarios because you can very easily get wrapped up in the bigger picture and look too far ahead, especially in high profile games.

"Having experienced it before and got it wrong - and sometimes got it right - that should stand me in good stead for this game. You also have to remember that the guys in the opposition will be feeling exactly the same."

They probably will. But while reaching World Cup semi-finals is something approaching routine for Australian international sides, it is anything but for England's. Coping with the moment as much as the opposition will be crucial.

WIMBLEDON, England -- American teenager Coco Gauff said she was "super proud" of her run to the last 16 at Wimbledon and will continue to "dream big" as she makes her way on the women's tour over the coming months.

The 15-year-old, who was the youngest player ever to qualify for the main draw and beat five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round, lost 6-3, 6-3 to the former world No. 1 Simona Halep in the fourth round at Wimbledon on Monday.

Playing on No. 1 Court, the second-biggest stadium at the All England Club, Gauff had plenty of support from the crowd. But Halep, the 2018 French Open champion and a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2014, had the better shots. She broke Gauff five times and took advantage of 29 unforced errors.

Gauff did manage to save two more match points when serving at 5-2, but Halep won the next game to reach the quarterfinals.

Gauff, whose Wimbledon run caught the attention of the likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama, said she had enjoyed every minute of her first Grand Slam event.

"If somebody told me this maybe three weeks ago, I probably wouldn't believe it," she said, wiping away a tear or two. "I think just putting in the work definitely raised my confidence because I knew how hard I worked and I knew what shots I could make and what was possible.

"I lost second round of qualifying in Paris (at the French Open). Now I made it to the second week. I'm super proud of myself. I'm excited to see what I'll do at the US Open and the next couple tournaments coming up. But these past two weeks have been amazing. I'm excited to be back next year.

Having won three matches in qualifying, each without dropping a set, Gauff outplayed Williams in the first round.

But she was even prouder of the way she battled in the third round, when she saved two match points and came from a set and 5-2 down to beat Polona Hercog of Slovenia.

"I hope they (people watching) learned about me that I'm a fighter," she said. "I'll never give up. I hope they learned from me that... anything is possible if you work hard, just continue to dream big.

"I learned a lot. I learned how to play in front of a big crowd, I learned what it was like to be under pressure. I learned a lot and I'm really thankful for this experience.

"Definitely, I would say my attitude on the court, continuing to fight for every point, that definitely helped me win the last three matches. I think if I keep that up, I'll keep doing well."

Gauff thrilled the crowds at Wimbledon throughout the first week and her efforts were noticed around the world, with the likes of Magic Johnson, the Miami Heat and Reese Witherspoon all offering their congratulations and best wishes.

Gauff said the attention had been "crazy," especially when Obama tweeted her support.

"It meant a lot to me because I've looked up to her for a long time," Gauff said. "She's such a role model. I mean, I was really shocked. I wasn't expecting that. Some of the celebrities that tweeted me I didn't even know followed tennis. They probably don't follow tennis, but... I don't know, it's crazy how big this has gotten."

Gauff's ranking is now projected to rise from No. 313 to No. 139 but WTA Tour rules limit the number of tournaments players can play before they turn 18.

Gauff says she will finish her high school work in the next couple of weeks and will continue to study online but said she is excited for the future.

"I'm only 15," she said. "I've not nearly gotten or developed my game. I started tennis at 6. I'm so excited to see, if I continue to work hard, what other success I can do in the future."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kevin Durant will have a new jersey number with the Brooklyn Nets.

The star forward announced on social media Sunday that he will switch to No. 7 after previously wearing No. 35 for the first 12 seasons of his NBA career.

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@35ventures

A post shared by 35 (@easymoneysniper) on Jul 7, 2019 at 4:00pm PDT

He explained the decision in a statement posted via Thirty Five Ventures, his business venture with manager Rich Kleiman.

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A post shared by Thirty Five Ventures (@35ventures) on Jul 7, 2019 at 4:00pm PDT

Durant wrote in the statement that: "35 took my family and me from Seat Pleasant, MD and showed us the world. 35 allowed me to meet people that I never would've had the chance to meet, experience things I would never have had the chance to experience, and achieve things that I never would have been able to achieve. 35 allowed me to go to the University of Texas to play basketball, 35 allowed me to achieve my dream of playing in the NBA in Seattle. 35 allowed me to play basketball in Oklahoma City and form bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime. Lastly, 35 allowed me to go to the Bay Area and win two championships and form brotherhoods that no time or distance will ever break. 35 was chosen in honor of someone very near and dear to me. I will always honor him and honor the number 35. But as I start this new chapter in my basketball life, the number I'll be wearing on my back is the number 7 next time you see me on the floor. One time Brooklyn."

Durant agreed to a four-year contract worth up to $164 million to play for the Nets after spending the past three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, winning two titles and being named NBA Finals MVP twice.

The Nets officially announced the addition of Durant on Sunday night as part of a sign-and-trade transaction with the Warriors that sent guard D'Angelo Russell to Golden State. The Warriors also received guard Shabazz Napier and forward Treveon Graham and sent a protected 2020 first-round pick to Brooklyn.

The Warriors announced last week that they will retire Durant's No. 35.

"Along with the rest of the league, our coaching staff has long admired Kevin's incredible skill, resilience and tenacity," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said in a statement. "He has already established himself as a champion and one of the best players of all-time, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him into our program in Brooklyn."

Durant's on-court debut for the Nets might not come until after this upcoming season; he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 10 in Toronto and underwent surgery two days later.

Durant, who turns 31 in September, finished the postseason averaging 32.3 points per game on 51% shooting from the field, 44% shooting from 3-point range and 90% shooting from the free throw line. He became the first player in NBA history to average 30 points per game on 50-40-90 shooting in a single postseason (minimum five games).

He is a 10-time All-Star (winning MVP of the game in 2012 and '19) and six-time All-NBA first team honoree and also won Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 and league MVP in 2013-14. He has led the NBA in scoring four times, and his current 27 points-per-game average ranks sixth all time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading forward Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets for a 2020 first-round pick -- a deal that saves the Thunder $39 million in salary and tax and stockpiles their sixth future first-round pick in recent days -- league sources told ESPN.

Oklahoma City gathered five future first-round picks in the Paul George blockbuster deal to the LA Clippers on Friday night, and moves Grant onto a Nuggets roster arming itself for a Western Conference title contending run.

In the George trade, the Thunder received three unprotected first-round Clippers picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) and two future Miami Heat first-round picks (2021 unprotected and 2023 lottery protected). The Thunder also have the rights to swap picks with Los Angeles in the 2023 and 2025 drafts.

The Thunder are gathering assets and lowering payroll and tax in the post-George era -- with Russell Westbrook remaining among the Thunder stars whose future could be elsewhere, league sources told ESPN. Westbrook and his agent, Thad Foucher, are discussing his future with Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti, sources said.

The Thunder solidified Grant's power forward position in the Clippers trade, acquiring Danilo Gallinari. Denver absorbs Grant's $9 million salary into the trade exception created with the Wilson Chandler deal to Philadelphia on July 8, 2018. That exception expired Monday. Grant has a $9.6 million player option on his 2020-21 contract.

Grant, 25, averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 77 starts for the Thunder a season ago. Grant has played five NBA seasons, including his first three with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Grant, son of ex-Washington Wizards star Harvey Grant, is a player whom Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has known as a young man, as Connelly worked with the Wizards early in his career. Grant joins Paul Millsap at power forward, bringing a dynamic athletic component to that position on Denver's roster.

Forward Jabari Parker, who played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards last season, has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, his agent said Monday.

Mark Bartelstein told The Athletic that the deal has a player option for the second year.

The Wizards held a $20 million team option with Parker for the 2019-20 season, and the deadline to exercise it was June 29, but the team declined it, making him a free agent.

The former Duke star and second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft landed in Washington in February. He came off the bench in all 25 of his appearances for the Wizards, averaging 15.0 points on a career-high 52.3% shooting to go with 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. 

It was a welcome change of scenery for Parker. He had signed a two-year, $40 million deal with his hometown Bulls last offseason but quickly fell out of favor in Chicago, losing significant playing time before he was traded. Defense was the culprit; on the season, Parker ranked 87th of 100 qualified power forwards in defensive real plus-minus (-0.91). 

Parker, 24, spent his first four seasons with Milwaukee before signing with Chicago. He holds career averages of 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists.