Kevin Durant makes appearance at Apple’s iPhone 7 unveiling

So, if you are a fan of technology, or if you participate in the day-to-day news cycle, you probably heard that Apple had a big event today.

Real fast, before we move on, let’s think about this, via wikipedia:

Apple's worldwide annual revenue totaled $233 billion for the fiscal year ending in September 2015.^[3] This revenue generation accounts for approximately 1.25% of the total United States GDP.^[11] The company enjoys a high level of brand loyalty and, according to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, has been the world's most valuable brand for 3 years in a row,^[12][13] with a valuation in 2015 of $170.3 billion.^[14]

1.25% percent of the total US GDP? $170.3 billion for the brand valuation?

LOLZ. Okay, now to the point.

Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City in large part because he was tired of Russell Westbrook’s ball-stopping, iso-heavy ways and wanted to play within a free flowing system that catered to his immense strengths. But, he also fled Oklahoma City because (much like Andre Iguodala, from a few years back) he realized that living in the Bay Area has certain other...let’s call ‘em perks.

Wanna rub elbows with other stupidly-rich dudes wearing casual attire while watching the world’s most “valuable brand” relaunch one of their most valuable products? Well, you can do that out here.

The other big news out of #TeamApple was that they got rid of the headphone jack.

Which, apparently, is a thing for internet people to internalize, despair over, and eventually bash with their mighty twitter-thumbs.

The new phone is also water resistant, which is cool. I guess... I don’t really get hyped for these things, someone else should be writing this column.

The point, at least here at GSoM, is that Durant is fully exploring his newfound access to the tech industry and to the pool of uber-wealth that exists in the greater Bay Area. He made a strong choice to come out west.

As he said, in his Players’ Tribune article:

The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.

Damn. I still get chills reading that last sentence. Mmmmm, let’s read it again, shall we?

With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.

So, anyways, Durant was in the crowd for Apple’s big thingamabobber. Durant is on the Warriors. Apple is based in the Bay. Durant may or not be on course to become the next Tim Cook, or Wally Szczerbiak? No, no. Whoops, my bad. I meant Steve Wozniak. Or maybe Durant fancies himself more in the Craig Federighi camp. That dude, by the way, has such excellent hair that there is a parody twitter account dedicated purely to his mane called @_HairForceOne. The account has over 14 thousand followers.

I kid you not.

Anyways, this is what we call #BigNews during these depressing, slow-going, late-summer months. Make of all this what you will.