As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to raise their first championship banner on Tuesday, two familiar faces, Kevin Durant and Steven Adams, return to Paycom Center wearing Rockets uniforms. Ahead of the season opener, both veterans reflected on their connection to Oklahoma City and what it means to face the defending champions on such a historic night.

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Kevin Durant on Facing the Thunder

Q: What have you seen from your team during preseason as you head into opening night?

Durant: “I feel like we’ve seen some things that we can use, and we’ve seen some things we can get better at, just like any unit. It’s going to take some time for us to get our flow perfect, but for the most part, we just play hard and take care of each other on both ends of the floor. We’ll be fine.”

Q: You feel like it’s going to be a good test going against that team, the way they pressure the ball?

Durant: “Most definitely. That’s the championship team. It’s always good to gauge yourself against the best team in the league, especially on a night like this, with so much energy in the building. It’s a great test for us.”

Q: What’s your process before an opening night with all the energy in the building? How do you get yourself ready?

Durant: “Same as I always get ready. I focus on doing my job the best I can and being a great supportive teammate. Let the game play out how it plays out.”

Q: Are you happy the season opener is against such a strong opponent?

Durant: “Yeah, it’s always good to start your season off with the best in the league, gauge who you are, and go from there. It’s something we’re looking forward to.”

Q: Does opening night feel different from other games?

Durant: “Only if you let it be bigger than what it is. I think it’s just another game, one of 82. We try not to put too much into opening night. We just go out there, do our jobs, and focus on getting better.”

Q: What excites you most about this Rockets team?

Durant: “Just being around these guys every day for the next six to seven months, building together, going through tough times, and getting tighter as a group, which makes us a better basketball team.”

Q: What has it been like working with coach Ime Udoka again?

Durant: “No, I mean, Ime is a guy that you know what you’re going to get from day one. And he’s always been like that every time I’ve been around him. So I was never surprised by how he operates. But it’s just good to see him every day, be around him every day, and build with him as well. So it’s going to be fun, man. It’s going to be a fun start of the season..”

Steven Adams on Returning to Oklahoma City

Q: What’s it like to return to OKC after the Thunder’s championship run?

Adams: “It’s definitely an exciting moment for the city. I’m really happy for them. The amount of years I’ve spent here and how well they’ve treated me, it’s one of those moments that’s good for the people and good for the city. Definitely special.”

Q: What’s it been like reuniting with Kevin Durant?

Adams: “Yeah, it’s cool, bro. Rehatching old relationships, and stuff, just talking, you know? Same old, teasing him about different things, different events that happened. But yeah, it’s good bro.”

Q: How confident are you in this Rockets roster?

Adams: “Yeah, the roster looks good and all that, but you’ve got to get there. You have to focus day by day, each game, each practice, and keep getting better. Even after tonight, we’ll have a good idea where we are, then we’ve got to keep growing.”

Q: What do you miss most about Oklahoma City?

Adams: “Yeah, it’s just the people, mate. There is something strangely magical about OKC, strangely. Like, it’s always this thing of like, damn, like you miss it, but then you get here and you’re just like, man, like there’s really nothing, nothing much going on. You know what I mean? But then like, you miss it. And it is, it’s the people that make it like really good, you know? And it’s like, I think it’s, I think it’s cause for, for the city, I think like they’re exceeding like expectations and whatnot. I think, you know, people overlook RKC a lot, but look, the city does really well, really, really well.”

The Scene on Banner Night

Tuesday’s matchup marks a milestone for Oklahoma City, which will celebrate its first NBA championship before tipoff. The Rockets, led by Udoka, Durant, and Adams, enter as one of the Western Conference’s most experienced rosters and the Thunder’s first major test in their title defense.