Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder have a long history. They had a nine-year association that lasted from 2007 to 2016 before things got bitter. The turning point was KD’s signing with the Golden State Warriors, which changed the balance of power.
His decision led to heavy backlash, as many accused Durant of taking the easier route. Making matters worse for him was that he joined a 73-9 team and the one that had just beaten him in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. Surely, not giving him a good look.
As a result, Durant emerged as the undisputed villain of the NBA, facing endless criticism and hate, especially on social media. KD never understood the volatility displayed towards him. A prime example of it was the Thunder allowing rookie P.J. Dozier to wear the No. 35.
Coming off his first championship, Durant adopted a different approach when addressing matters around the Thunder.
“I didn’t have that perspective at first. I didn’t have it when I went back to OKC. I was like, ‘F–k all of them.’ I didn’t have it when they gave my number away. I was, ‘F–k all of them.’ Then I had to get out of my head, tell myself, ‘It’s not that serious, it is what it is.’ I understand it’s not my number anymore; they can do whatever they want with it,” said Durant.
“At some point, that thing’s going to be in the rafters anyway; it’s all good. I did something they didn’t like. They did something I didn’t like. Sh-t happens. If I was on my deathbed, I guarantee you Sam Presti and Russell Westbrook would come check on me,” added the former Thunder MVP.
Although Durant did not meet the end goal of winning a title for the Thunder, his contributions cannot be overlooked.
KD is confident about jersey retirement
The relationship between Durant and the Oklahoma franchise is indeed a complicated one. The former MVP experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when playing for the Thunder. While the hatred may have simmered down, the cracks do persist.
Regardless of how things stand today with the Thunder, KD is optimistic about someday having his jersey hung in the rafters of the Chesapeake Arena (now Paycom Center).
“OKC has to retire my jersey…It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t,” stated Durant in 2022.
As a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer, Durant believed that OKC’s decision not to retire his jersey would clearly indicate how it was personal. He was undoubtedly a pillar of the franchise and its first-ever MVP. Another highlight of his tenure was the 2012 Finals against the Miami Heat.
While there have been occasional talks of a reunion between KD and the Thunder, given how things stand today, it seems highly unlikely.
A new era of basketball in Oklahoma
Winning the 2024-25 title, the wait was finally over for the Thunder, who now get to hang their first-ever championship banner. Paving the way for a new Big 3 in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the lineup boasts talent across all levels.
GM Sam Presti deserves credit for showing patience and sticking to the process despite previously missing the target. It only got worse for him after KD left in 2016, when the Thunder had to start the rebuilding process all over again.
That said, players like Durant and Russell Westbrook were instrumental in putting the Thunder on the map. While they were unable to win a title together, one cannot discount their efforts to win the chip for OKC. They gave it their all, but destiny had different plans.