Kevin Durant Reflects on Eight Seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
The Houston Rockets star looks back on his time in Oklahoma, the city's post-bombing identity, and the 2025 championship parade.
By Harper Collins ·
Kevin Durant is in his second season with the Houston Rockets, but his connection to the Oklahoma City Thunder remains strong as he prepares to face his former team on October 31.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN for the E60 documentary "The Oklahoma Standard," Durant discussed his eight years in Oklahoma City, a period that began in July 2008 when he arrived in the newly relocated franchise at age 19. He described the city's reception as welcoming, noting that fans treated the team with an intensity that differed from larger markets. "With open arms," Durant said. "The excitement, the energy level was high."
Durant explained that the Thunder's presence in Oklahoma City helped the community move past the 2001 bombing. General Manager Sam Presti took the early team to the National Memorial & Museum to understand the local history. This visit made the jersey feel more meaningful to the players. "I felt the level of pride that I was from there," Durant said. He noted that in smaller markets, the team was often the primary social activity, creating a family-like atmosphere that he rarely experienced in cities with multiple professional teams.
The Thunder's early success came quickly. With a core that included Russell Westbrook and James Harden, all future MVPs, the team reached the NBA Finals in 2012. They lost to the Miami Heat, and that would be the only Finals appearance for that specific group. Durant left for Golden State in 2016, where he won two consecutive championships. While some former fans viewed his departure with anger, he has since been welcomed back, though not without occasional boos.
Durant expressed pride in the Thunder winning the 2025 championship. He recalled the small parade held after the 2012 loss and knew a true title celebration would draw a massive crowd. "I wish our team could have been the one to do it because we were young and we showed we could," he said. He viewed the 2025 title as an evolution of the foundation he and his teammates laid, crediting players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for building upon that early work.
Durant emphasized the culture of discipline and togetherness established by Presti. He remembered the team traveling to malls in road trip cities wearing matching Thunder sweatshirts, projecting a unified front. "I embodied it every day," Durant said of the blue-collar approach. He described the franchise's growth from practicing in a Division II college facility to a renovated roller rink, and eventually to a world-class arena. "You don't get to be at the infant stages of a lot of things and to see it blossom to where it is now," he said.
The Rockets and Thunder will meet on October 31 in their first regular-season game of the year. Durant acknowledged that playing against his old team brings a mix of competitive focus and personal affection. "I've got a soft spot in my heart for that state," he said. The documentary "The Oklahoma Standard" details the team's relationship with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
The interview highlights Durant's perspective on how the Thunder became synonymous with the state's identity. He noted that the city was often overlooked nationally compared to other major hubs, but the basketball culture provided a unifying force. "Our city's about love," he said. "We're a city of love and camaraderie and togetherness."
