The Oklahoma City Thunder faced off against the Houston Rockets tonight in one of the season’s most compelling openers. And yes, the tension was real from the jump.
Rockets forward Kevin Durant spent his first nine seasons in the league with the Thunder before leaving in what remains one of the NBA‘s most controversial departures.
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Nearly ten years have passed since he chose the Golden State Warriors over Oklahoma City. Four different jerseys later, the resentment from Thunder fans hasn’t softened one bit.
Durant even got into a playful back-and-forth with the crowd before tipoff, booing right back at Thunder fans who were taunting him during warmups. Some things never change.
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The Thunder entered tonight’s matchup fresh off receiving their championship rings. You’d think that accomplishment might ease any lingering tension with Durant, especially considering he’s added two titles of his own since leaving. But the hostility between him and his former team remains striking. It’s a rare level of intensity for a player-team split, particularly one that included so much shared success.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Durant began his NBA journey with the Seattle SuperSonics, who became the Oklahoma City Thunder just before his second season. He spent nine seasons in OKC, appearing in 641 games while averaging an impressive 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
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Shooting 48 percent from the field and 38 percent from three, Durant was a top MVP candidate for five straight seasons and captured the award in 2014.
After becoming the face of the franchise, he shocked fans by leaving for the Warriors in 2016. That move is still widely criticized today. The Thunder’s frustration was clear tonight, as boos rained down during his championship celebration. Luckily, Durant had the experience to handle it with ease.
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