Suns Star Kevin Durant Reacts to Getting Booed in Oklahoma City

• Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant was booed in his return to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder
• He says he understands why the fans do it and is grateful to the city where he spent eight seasons
• Durant left the Thunder in 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors, a move that was heavily criticized

Ever since Kevin Durant decided to leave Oklahoma City in free agency in 2016, many Thunder fans are yet to forgive him more than six years after he made that controversial decision.

The veteran forward was relentlessly booed in his first game in OKC since November 2021.

The 34-year-old shocked the basketball world when he left the Thunder to join the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.

Some might have felt that enough time had passed to turn wounds into scars but the OKC faithful still bear a grudge against their former superstar.

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Coincidentally, former Thunder point guard, Chris Paul received cheers from the crowd.

Every time Durant touched the ball, the disdain was crystal clear. However, the forward and the Suns went home smiling after they won 128-118.

He was viciously booed when he went back for the first time in 2017 with the Warriors, exchanging words with several Thunder players as the Golden State won 130-114, per USA Today.

Durant left the Thunder after the Warriors roared back from 3-1 down to beat them in the Western Conference finals in 2016.

Durant on getting booed

The 2014 MVP went on to win two NBA championships in 2017 and 2018, helping the Warriors become one of the greatest teams of all-time.

His move to the team that had won a league record 73 games was not universally celebrated, with some accusing him of pursuing the easiest route to a title.

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Durant believes he understands why the fans in Oklahoma boo him:

“I meant so much to this community and just for me to leave like that. Early on, I didn’t get it. But I get that an NBA team is a part of your community, players so entrenched in your community. There was more love this time than there has been in the past. I’m just focused on that. I’ve had so many great memories here, so many people I’ve met that have just changed my life. I’ll forever be grateful to be a part of this organization,” Durant said, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.

Suns coach, Mony Williams does not understand why Durant's former team boos him, per Thunder Wire.

"I’m still surprised about (why) so many people boo him here. I don’t understand that... I hope someday that they can appreciate him."

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Durant on NBA legacy

Sports Brief previously reported on Durant explaining why he doesn't care about legacies, preferring to just 'play and go home'.

The Suns star said his focus was going out onto the court and producing the best game he could, then going back to his family.

The legacy of the former Brooklyn Nets star is solid. He is one of the game's greatest ever and won almost everything in his career.