Shortly after Omri Casspi agreed to sign with the Warriors in July 2017, he heard from Steve Kerr and Kevin Durant.
Those text messages meant everything to him.
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SIGN UP HERE Unfortunately for Casspi, his situation in Golden State turned into a nightmare as the Warriors waived him just before the start of the 2018 NBA playoffs in order to sign Quinn Cook.
"I was going through stuff. I remember being cut from the Warriors. I was at the top of the world and I'm being honest -- it was the dream of my life playing for the Warriors and competing for an NBA championship," Casspi said to Kerr this week on his podcast. "You know, things happen. You get hurt and the team has to go in a different direction.
"I remember our conversation in the locker room and (you saying) you gotta step up and deal with the situation and look for the good things in your life. Thank God I had a wife and family to support me ... (I needed to) deal with it the right way."
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Remember, Steph Curry suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee March 23. It was all but certain that he was going to miss at least the first round of the postseason.
As a result, the Warriors needed to add Cook -- who earned his spot after averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds over the Dubs' final 15 games.
To make matters worse for Casspi, he missed Golden State's last 11 games after spraining his right ankle against the Sacramento Kings on March 16.
When the Israeli native was averaging 8.7 points and 5.4 rebounds over an 18-game stretch across November and December, there is no chance he thought he would get cut and end up watching the Warriors win the NBA title from afar.
[RELATED: Casspi bothered by some people writing off 'my Warriors']
Despite the disappointing finish to his time in the Bay Area, Casspi could not have been more effusive in his praise for Kerr.
"In my heart, I'm still part of the team in some capacity," the 32-year-old said. "Coach, you've been a true inspiration to me -- on and off the court. I learned so much from you.
"I really want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity playing for you, (and) our friendship ... love you."
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