With Russell Westbrook in town to make his one and only appearance this season at Chesapeake Energy Arena since being traded the energy was high. The OKC Thunder broke tradition by airing a tribute to Westbrook following his introduction. That’s a first as no returning players, even Kevin Durant, who is equally important to the first decade of the franchise got that treatment.
KD’s exit was marred by the fact no one expected his departure, especially to the Warriors so his eventual return wasn’t warmly received.
This past summer when Durant suffered a terrible injury tearing his Achilles tendon and then subsequently left the Warriors to join the Nets it seemed like perhaps the fan base was finally in a place where they could forgive and forget.