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 Friday report, Durant’s first game with the Rockets will kick off the new NBA season on 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.
Not even close to the same thing because LeBron was the cornerstone of his championships while Durant was an add on to Steph’s team. But whatever makes you feel better.
> LeBron was the cornerstone of his
> championships while Durant was an
> add on to Steph’s team.
KD was better than Steph for those 3 years, including 2 Finals MVP
The Oklahoma City Thunder is built very nice! This is a team that can become the modern day dynasty!
They remind me a lot of the 91-92-93 Chicago Bulls. When they had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant leading the way.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
All three players are really young like the Chicago Bulls players were and they all are two way players.
We will see if they can even repeat.
Having 2 injured teams push them to 7 games wasn’t exactly dynasty-indicative. (The ’91 Bulls longest playoff series was 5 games twice, in the 2nd rd and the Finals).
Having a couple players injured on teams that pushed them to game 7’s isn’t as big as deal as you’re making it out to be. Their second best player, Jaylen Williams was playing with a torn ligament in his shooting hand.
Besides that the deeper you go into the playoffs the more every team is dealing with injuries.
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.
The way people talk about the Thunder and Presti. You would think they were winning championships every season.
They have 1 championship in the last 20 years doing it “Their way”
And they almost got knocked out in the 2nd round.
Fact is they have stayed relevant in a small market with maybe 3 down years.
A championship is a championship. You can say they almost got knocked out but every title in every sport has involved a luck or injury element.
I guess the Warriors should be the only team praised since they are the only ones with multiple titles recently. Spurs haven’t been Spurs in 18 years.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will have some hard decisions to make with two of their starters and one of their key bench players.
I honestly think if they have to part with them because of financial reasons it won’t hurt them as much because they so deep! Got so much young talent on the roster! Then Sam Presti still has a ton of future draft picks!
Hard decisions? Maybe in 27-28, not sooner.
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.
They are two years away from real change. So relax and see what they do. OKC does have picks to use. Even for trades. But change doesn’t mean success. IHart was a big part of Chet success and team Success. Sorber imo was a great pick for them.
Still Denver and Houston are for real.
Denver I think are
Houston I don’t see enough offense(shooting). Not depending on 37yr old KD that has had injuries for the past 5 years.
This was funny – as if the Thunder fans are going to just leave KD alone?
Cupcake signs and boos will definitely be happening!!