Durant reaches out to vet who got hit when ball flew into stands

7:29 AMOAKLAND, California – After a painful chance introduction, Joseph Franzia was all smiles while holding a signed pair of Kevin Durant sneakers near the Golden State Warriors’ locker room late Saturday night while waiting for the very apologetic NBA All-Star.

Durant punched a basketball high into the air during his shooting workout before a 109-105 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. The wayward basketball flew into the stands behind the visiting bench and hit an unsuspecting, glasses-wearing Franzia in the nose while he was sitting next to his wife, Marilyn. Franzia suffered a cut on his face. Noticing a commotion where the ball landed, Durant immediately left the floor and ran to the stands to check on Franzia.

“I punched the ball up in the air pregame and it kind of hit him on his head a little bit,” Durant said. “We talked it out. I went there right after it happened and he said, ‘You better win the damn game.’ And I knew he was all right after that.”

Marilyn Franzia had to tell her dazed husband to look up to see that Durant was there to check on him after he got hit with the ball. Arena personnel, medical personnel and police came to the scene to make sure Franzia was OK. Durant apologized profusely and had his security guard check in with Franzia later.

The Vietnam veteran thought he affected Durant more than vice versa. Durant entered the Celtics game averaging 26 points, but finished with 20 points in a victory that included a 49-point performance from his teammate Stephen Curry.

“It hurt. It surprised me. It hit on me. I think I threw off his game. He had 20. That is why I felt bad about it,” said Franzia, who has been a Warriors fan since the 1970s.

After the game, Durant’s security guard brought Franzia and his wife to a private hallway near the Warriors’ locker room and gave him pair of signed Durant shoes. Durant would later exchange pleasantries with the Franzias before he talked to the media.

“I got a chance to meet him and his wife. Great people. Glad he enjoyed the game and glad he is all right,” Durant said.

Franzia is the president of Classic Wines of California. In 1973, Joseph, Fred and John Franzia founded the family-owned Bronco Wine Company, which sells wines in more than 90 countries worldwide and the United States.

“I invited him to drink some wine with me,” Joseph Franzia said.

Said Marilyn Franzia: “And the wine is great.”