Kevin Durant Understands Why OKC Thunder Fans Booed Him: “I Meant So Much To This Community And Just For Me To Leave Like That…”

Kevin Durant shares his true thoughts on getting booed by OKC fans in his return.

4 Min Read

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns recently faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant shined in a phenomenal victory against his former team.

Considering KD’s history with the franchise, it was no surprise that he was showered with boos by OKC fans. The root of the Thunder fans’ hate for Durant is his betrayal back in 2016 when he joined the Golden State Warriors. The 34-year-old addressed the boos in the postgame interview.

“I mean, I understand it. I meant so much to this community, and just for me to leave like that, early on, I didn’t get it, but I get that an NBA team is a part of your community,” Durant said. “You’ve got players who transcend your community. You feel closer to them. So, I get it. I mean, it’s still emotions, it’s still some people who don’t like that I left this franchise. But it was more love this time than it has been in the past. So I was just focused on that.”

Kevin Durant will always remain one of the best players to ever play in the history of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Keeping that in mind, he will most likely get booed by fans every time he returns to play in OKC as well. It’s great that Durant has accepted that fact.

Despite the hostile environment, Durant didn’t let it get to his game. He recorded 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading the Suns to a victory over the Thunder.

The Suns are now 43-35 and firmly hold the fourth seed in the Western Conference table ahead of the postseason.


Kevin Durant Wants Oklahoma City Thunder To Retire His Jersey

Kevin Durant spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his tenure with the team, KD may have failed to lead them to an NBA Championship, but he did lead them to an NBA Finals appearance and three Western Conference finals.

Apart from that, Durant gave fans many unforgettable moments to cherish forever. With that being said, the Slim Reaper believes he deserves to get his jersey retired by the franchise.

“OKC has to retire my jersey,” said Durant. “It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. … Because I feel like I am basketball. I breathe it. This is my DNA. I put in the time and respect, and love for each one of these programs on and off the floor to get that type of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s personal.”

Durant did absolutely everything in his power to make the Thunder one of the best teams in the league during his stint.

Sure, many fans hate Durant for his betrayal in 2016, but they cannot deny the good things he did for the team and the city. Hopefully, when KD retires, his jersey will be retired by the organization.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:
Share This Article
Aikansh Chaudhary is an NBA columnist for Fadeaway World. He is always ready to publish the most interesting news, legendary throwbacks, and the hottest buzz around the NBA. A die-hard Lakers fan, Aikansh will forever uphold LeBron James as the GOAT. In his free time, you can either find him playing basketball or soccer. Expertise: NBA, Trades, ThrowbacksFavorite Team: Los Angeles LakersFeatured On A.M. HoopsPrevious Work: EssentiallySports, Sportskeeda, Lake Show Life, The Sports Rush
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *