Defending champions the Oklahoma City Thunder will open the 2025-2026 NBA season with a celebration. They will receive their rings and hoist a championship banner to the rafters of Paycom Arena. This is the Thunder’s first title in 17 years since the franchise moved from Seattle to Oklahoma.
It is expected to be an emotional night filled with fanfare and spectacle. And Kevin Durant, who is making his Houston Rockets debut, will be there to witness it all unfold.
That is one of the storylines Durant is dreading the media and basketball world will focus on: him watching his former team celebrate a championship. He knows some fans are still bitter about his decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
“This was like a decade ago. I just think it’s a lot of controversy surrounding my name in Oklahoma City,” he said on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams. “To celebrate the start of the season with that context that’s just floating around the game…I don’t know if it’s cool or not.”
Although he expects opening night to be fun, Durant admitted that he has mixed feelings about his return.
“Because on one end, you are opening up the season, which is a privilege,” he said. “There are some storylines that may not involve celebrating the game, celebrating OKC, what they did last season. Some may involve me, which is unfortunate.”
KD wants it to be all about OKC
Last season the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games to become the youngest team to win an NBA title. Franchise cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was hailed as the finals MVP.
Durant said he looks forward to seeing the Thunder, the first team that loved and believed in him, finally celebrate a championship.
“It should be a fun night, though,” he said. “OKC getting their rings, I’m in the building…they pan to see my reaction.”
Already secured with his legacy — two titles and two finals MVP awards — KD wants everyone to focus on the Thunder’s historic and well-deserved championship.
“Them getting their rings is the most important thing,” Durant said. “I’m not happy or like sad or mad, I missed out because I’ve won two championships.”
Durant feels honored to open the season
The 2025-2026 regular season will kick off on Oct. 21, with OKC hosting Houston in the first game, followed by the Warriors facing the Los Angeles Lakers.
Besides OKC’s ring and banner ceremony and Durant’s first game as a Rocket, the game will showcase a potential rivalry between the two teams in the Western Conference. In the second game, LeBron James and Stephen Curry will kick off their seasons.
It’s a star-studded and highly anticipated double-header that will mark the historic return of NBA coverage on NBC after over two decades.
Playing his eighth opening night game this year, Durant said being part of such a momentous season opener speaks to his legacy and impact as a player and he couldn’t help but express his gratitude.
“I think that’s what you call an impact on the league. I just think I’ve been around for so long and that storyline still has some type of legs for you to be the first game on broadcast,” he said. “I don’t know whether to think that’s cool or not, but it is what it is… I’m grateful to playing on that night and being the first game that people see on the new broadcast.”
Undoubtedly, it will be a highly emotional night for Durant and the Thunder. However, people should not focus on the storylines. Instead, they should appreciate the elite level of basketball to be played by the Rockets, Thunder, Warriors and Lakers on that night as they start another exciting year of hoops.