Prior to Kevin Durant’s return to Oklahoma City in February, hot take artists told OKC Thunder fans to “move on.” We, rightfully, didn’t listen. The wound was still fresh. “My Next Chapter” still rang hollow.
The transformation of Durant from “humble kid who always said the right thing” to “angry victim who lacked self-awareness” confused and upset us. Thunder fans had no disillusions about beating the Warriors on that night. Fans weren’t there because they couldn’t move on. They were there to support Russell Westbrook and the team they loved. They were there to show that, despite what he said, we truly did care about him as more than a basketball player.