The NBA season opener on Tuesday, Oct. 21, featured on-court drama, and at the center of it was Kevin Durant, the two-time NBA champion.
When the Houston Rockets faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, It was sort of a reunion for KD and the OKC fans and a rather tense one.
Kevin Durant’s Action Brings Up Deep-Seated Tension With the Thunder
Durant, who joined the Rockets this offseason after three years with the Phoenix Suns, returned to Oklahoma City, where his NBA journey truly began. The Thunder, fresh off their championship celebration, were met with a familiar face and a familiar chorus of boos.
As the Rockets’ starters were introduced, fans at Paycom Center made their feelings clear. The boos for Durant were loud enough to echo through the broadcast, and the two-time NBA champion didn’t stay quiet.
Kevin Durant booing the OKC crowd—
KD is a menace. 🤣🤣🤣
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 21, 2025
Cameras caught Durant turning toward the stands and playfully booing back at the crowd, a moment that instantly went viral on social media. He was smiling too, giving the impression that he was not affected by the criticism of the Thunder fans. “Boo to you too, motha—–,” Durant was heard shouting toward the stands with a smile.
Durant’s relationship with Oklahoma City has been rocky since his infamous departure in 2016, when he left the Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors. This move changed the NBA landscape and drew criticism from fans who once adored him.
Before leaving, Durant had spent nine spectacular seasons with the franchise, turning the Thunder into a powerhouse alongside Russell Westbrook and James Harden. He averaged 27.4 points per game, won four scoring titles, claimed the 2013–14 MVP award, and led OKC to the 2012 NBA Finals.
For a city that had embraced him as its own, Durant’s exit felt personal. And nine years later, those feelings clearly haven’t faded.
Even recently, during a media appearance, when asked whether there were still people or staff in Oklahoma City he enjoyed seeing, Durant’s reply was short and cutting: “No,” highlighting that any connection he once had with the OKC team or the fans no longer exists.
Durant’s move to the Rockets marks his fifth NBA team, and at this point, he’s embraced the villain role. The boos and the criticism: none of it fazes him anymore. If anything, moments like Tuesday night show he’s ready to fire right back.
In fact, this is not the first time Durant has faced such hostility from the OKC fans. On Feb. 11, 2017, Durant returned to the Thunder arena for the first time since leaving for the Warriors. Throughout the night, he was relentlessly booed. However, KD was as cold in his reaction as ever.
“I expected them to be loud and cheer for their team,” Durant said. “I’ve been called worse in my life, man. I’ve been counted out since before I was born, so this isn’t anything new,” he bluntly said back then.
Evidently, while the Thunder fans may still hold a grudge, Durant seems perfectly comfortable being the one they love to hate.
