Kevin Durant strode toward the sleek, white Mercedes-Benz parked on the airport tarmac, glanced at Serge Ibaka putting luggage in the vehicle, then issued a directive.
"C'mon," Durant said.
Soon, Ibaka and every other Thunder player was walking toward a chain-link fence stretching the short distance between the terminal for private planes and a repair hangar at the Oklahoma City airport. Nearly a thousand fans crammed together on the other side of the fence, their cheers echoing between the buildings. Even though 24 hours had yet to pass since Golden State triumphed in the Western Conference finals and delivered another painful blow to Oklahoma City, the love was strong.