Many in Oklahoma City probably still feel sore about Kevin Durant skipping town on them back in 2016. But Durant thinks that the organization should be feeling grateful.
In an interview this week with The Ringer, Durant said that he believes the Thunder should retire the No. 35 jersey he wore with them.
“Every one of these places I played is my home,” he said. “I can imagine me when I’m done, and I don’t think any one of these franchises would be like, ‘No, K, what you did here is not a part of our history.’ I’m going to be a Hall of Famer when I’m done, one of the greatest to ever play. If you don’t want me to be part of your program when I’m done playing, then that’s personal.
“OKC has to retire my jersey,” Durant added. “It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. The same with Golden State … I put in the time and respect and love for each one of these programs on and off the floor to get that type of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s personal.”
Durant saying that the Warriors should retire his jersey is fair game. He brought them two NBA titles (as Finals MVP both times), and Golden State has already said they plan to retire Durant’s number. But it is a bit murkier with the Thunder. Though Durant was responsible for putting OKC on the NBA map following their move from Seattle, his departure left behind a sour taste. Durant never won a title with the Thunder and did not quite show the loyalty and devotion to the organization that Russell Westbrook did (even if Durant did win a regular season MVP and four scoring titles in OKC).
To make matters even more complicated, Durant trashed the Thunder and Oklahoma City as a whole in an interview just a couple years ago. It sounds like there are some definite fences to mend if Durant wants to make his vision of getting his jersey retired by the Thunder into a reality.
Oct 11, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) in action against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
