What sets Warriors practice apart in NBA? Mix some E-40 with Aretha Franklin

Kevin Durant was perplexed when hip-hop music started thumping through the sound system at his first Warriors practice in September 2016. It was quite the contrast from his workouts with Oklahoma City, where the bounce of balls and the squeak of sneakers comprised most of the background noise.

“Is that the norm around here?” Durant asked Golden State assistant coach Mike Brown. “I’m not used to this.”

It wasn’t long before Durant came to appreciate the tunes — everything from rap to reggae to soul to electronica — blared during the team’s stretches, drills and individual work. Music at practices and shootarounds might seem trivial, but the Warriors view it as a fundamental part of the organization’s easygoing culture.