Kevin Durant was booed by the fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder when the Phoenix Suns rolled into town to face them. This was KD’s first time playing in OKC since being traded to Phoenix.
KD left the Thunder in acrimonious fashion in 2016, leaving them in free agency to join their rivals, the Golden State Warriors. Even though it’s been 7 years, the fans still clearly hold a grudge.
Loud boos for KD in OKC pic.twitter.com/fUPOucc2N8
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 2, 2023
Durant reacted to the boos after the game.
“I understand it. I meant so much to the community and to just leave like that. Early on, I didn’t get it. But I get that. An NBA team is a part of the community, you feel closer to them. I get it. It’s still emotions, there are people who don’t like that I left the franchise but it was more love this time than there has been in the past. I am just focused on that. I have so many great memories here, so many people I have met that have changed my life. I am forever grateful to have been part of this organization.”
Despite getting booed, KD said “there was more love this time than there has been in the past” in OKC. pic.twitter.com/hNcA5hPLPY
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) April 3, 2023
The decision to leave the OKC Thunder for the Golden State Warriors seemed pretty indefensible at the time. His Thunder had just blown a 3-1 lead to the Warriors with Durant on the court before the Warriors blew the same lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. KD left after 3 seasons and won 2 championships and Finals MVPs because of his decision.
Kevin Durant Hoping To Have A Good Time In Phoenix
Any team that KD has left has had hard feelings about the relationship in some way. OKC fans are booing Durant to this day while KD looked to leave the Warriors after just 3 seasons together. He left Golden State for the Brooklyn Nets, a team with whom he had a tense 3-and-a-half-year relationship which saw the team mortgage their futures for a title run that never materialized.
Phoenix gave up a lot for KD but already has a star core around him with Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Chris Paul. Even if this season doesn’t yield championship results for the Suns, they are a team to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future. They are currently the 4th seed with a 43-35 record on the season. Their win over the Thunder tonight means the team is on a 5-game winning streak.
Source: fadeawayworld.net
