The 2025-2026 NBA season opener was more than just a game; it was a night of high drama in Oklahoma City. As the defending champion Thunder celebrated their first title in franchise history, all eyes were on one man on the opposing team: Kevin Durant. His controversial return to the city he once led, on the very night they raised a banner without him, set the stage for a tense, unforgettable evening that ended in double overtime.
Why Did Kevin Durant Skip the Thunder’s Ring Ceremony?
Before the thrilling 125-124 double-overtime victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Houston Rockets, the home team held its first-ever ring ceremony and raised its first championship banner. While several former Thunder players, like Steven Adams and Jeff Green, who are now with the Rockets, stayed on the court to watch. According to NBA reporter Daniel Bell on X, Kevin Durant was absent.
Adams, drafted by the team in 2013, spent seven seasons in Oklahoma City. Green was with the franchise for three seasons, including its final year as the Seattle SuperSonics. However, Durant’s history with the organization is far more complicated and well-documented.
Durant made seven All-Star teams in his nine seasons with the Thunder, won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2014, and led the team to the 2012 NBA Finals. That relationship soured when he left in July 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors, a move that led to two championships for him but left a permanent strain in Oklahoma City. Durant later criticized the Thunder front office, though general manager Sam Presti chose not to engage in a public dispute.
Dug deep in double OT 😤 pic.twitter.com/shxer34M65
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 22, 2025
Durant’s return on such a historic night was arguably the biggest storyline of the NBA’s opening day. While he might have preferred to stick to his pregame routine, his absence will undoubtedly fuel speculation that his relationship with the franchise remains cold.
On the court, Durant had an eventful night himself. He was part of a historically significant Rockets starting lineup that featured no player under 6-foot-7, and he contributed 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting along with nine rebounds before fouling out.
Made @NBA history at last night’s opener with the TALLEST starting lineup since starters were tracked in 1970-71! pic.twitter.com/BqfFQezXb9
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 22, 2025
The game’s final moments hinged on his actions. With just 2.3 seconds left, Durant fouled reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who made both free throws to win the game for the Thunder. After the loss, Durant blamed himself for the critical foul and pointed to a key missed free throw in regulation that could have prevented overtime.
Adding to the drama, he nearly cost the Rockets the game at the end of the first overtime by signaling for a timeout when the team had none left. Ultimately, with the tension of this game behind him, Durant can now focus on the rest of the season and his role in Houston’s chase for its first NBA championship in over 30 years.
