Years have passed since Kevin Durant donned the Oklahoma City Thunder jersey, yet his legacy within the franchise remains palpable. The bond he shares with the team is undeniable, despite the time that has elapsed since his departure. With the Thunder’s remarkable performance last season, culminating in their first-ever championship, his connection to the team resurfaced prominently.
Responding on social media platform X to a question about Thunder winning the championship, Durant replied as always with a humorous and sarcastic touch. “Finally. Been 10 years, bout time they win one lmaooo,” is what Durant tweeted, and it got a polar reaction from the audience. While the majority of Thunder fans felt upset at his jestful riposte as it dismissed the importance of their long-overdue victory, it’s an irrefutable fact that it has been 10 years since Durant parted ways with the franchise that he helped popularize.
After his sojourn in Oklahoma City, Durant went on to the Golden State Warriors and conquered two titles there before playing for the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns and now the Houston Rockets. Thunder’s Finals trip during his time saw him reach great heights but being so close and yet so far from the big trophy has left him with a sour taste. While it’s sure that he must be feeling proud of his former side winning all these accolades, it’s also sure that incessant comparisons and questions about his years in OKC might not be something on which he’d want to look back. As Durant looks to write a new chapter in his career, he is keen on achieving prosperity with the Rockets. The list of players for Houston has become one of the most dynamic in the game, as Durant’s celebrated ability to score is now part of the lineup. Everybody and every analyst wants to know how this cast will hold up as they match up versus the Thunder during the 2025-26 season.
The Thunder, newly minted champs, go into the new season as the team everyone else wants to beat. Durant’s Rockets versus the champs is one series everybody will be salivating over. If Houston manages to win against Oklahoma City, it will certainly make a statement all around the league. But either way, the story that links Durant and the Thunder will continue on. It remains a tribute to his playing while sporting that uniform, one that will always linger within the franchise’s lore.
