Thunder fans shouldn’t get distracted by the presence of Kevin Durant at their ring night celebration, writes Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. According to a report Friday night, Durant’s first game with the Rockets will kick off the new NBA season October 21 at Oklahoma City, which is when the home team will be honored for capturing the city’s first-ever championship.
Durant has a long and complicated history with OKC fans. He was their first hero when the team moved from Seattle in 2008 and led them to the NBA Finals in 2012. However, a rift was created when he left for Golden State as a free agent four years later and he usually gets loudly booed during visits to Oklahoma City.
Stiles encourages fans to look past their feud with Durant for at least one night and savor the ring presentations and the raising of the championship banner. Stiles doesn’t expect forgiveness, but he said the crowd should celebrate the accomplishments of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates, who were able to accomplish something for the franchise that Durant never did.
There’s more on the Thunder:
- After winning 68 games and bringing home the championship, there are reasons to believe OKC will be even better next season, Stiles suggests in a separate story. Fourteen players return from the title team, with first-round pick Thomas Sorber replacing Dillon Jones on the 15-man roster. The team figures to benefit from internal development with so many young players, plus 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topic will be active after missing all of last season due to injury. In addition, several contenders have taken a step back so the Thunder’s path through the regular season might be easier.
- A $28.5MM team option on center Isaiah Hartenstein will be the Thunder’s major decision for next summer, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman states in a mailbag column. While it’s possible that Hartenstein could agree to a new deal with a smaller average annual value, Martinez notes that re-signing him may mean parting with Luguentz Dort ($17.7MM) and Kenrich Williams ($7.2MM), who will also be on team options. Martinez views Hartenstein as the most likely of the three to be let go because his salary is so large.
- The Thunder can afford to be patient with Sorber if he’s not fully ready in time for training camp, Martinez adds in the same piece. The 19-year-old big man underwent surgery in February for a turf toe injury and missed all of Summer League, even though he was able to work out individually during practices. There has been no official word on Sorber’s status, and he said at a post-draft press conference that he was “just taking it day-by-day.”
Durant is the true definition of “couldn’t beat them, so I joined them”
Was all good for LeBron to ring chase and form superteams. SGs better than Wade is a short list of two. It appears Silver does atleast have a sense of humour….KD watching OKC get made men, lols.
What you talking about Stiles….in my Gary Coleman voice. What contenders have taken a step back? Denver and Houston will be better. Clippers got deeper, even Lakers got better. Adding Ayton, never thought I’d say that. Mavs, Wolves, Grizzlies will still be pretty good. OKCs payroll going forward will destroy them.
Yeah the West is tougher. He must have been thinking of the East. With Celtics and Pacers dealing with major injury. I see Denver and Houston as a real threat.
The teams who need a real Center. And passed on Sorber will regret it. He is a big time C talent. And can take his time growing into one. Like a lottery pick should. They can Move IHart in two years for picks.
Relying on Chet to be healthy is a little scary for OKC. Hartenstein most definitely helped OKC to the no.1 seed. Apparently you can just plug in rookies though and the same success is a given. Losing guys like Hartenstein and Dort would hurt big time.
You haven’t been paying attention. The payroll won’t destroy them, OKC is like 1 of 3 teams that actually knows how to develop late 1st, 2nd, and undrafted guys. They have picks to constantly replace role guys that may seek bigger contracts. They will be fine as they have 20 years of being able to develop.
That simple is it….just lose key pieces and bring in rookies to a chip.
IHart could take smaller contract. Teams don’t have cap space. Not sure they would get a first for him in a s&t. Kenrich could get less too as he is a situational player. He is their vet and they play him when he fits. Not sure he will have same value on other teams. Dort will get $25 just for the defense, his value could depend on if NBA adds rules to help offense.